Congressman Hamadeh Condemns Fake News That Could Threaten National Security

WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday, Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh (AZ-08), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, joined President Donald Trump in strong support for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and questions whether fake news reports about unrest in the ranks of the Department of Defense are intended to weaken our national security.

"As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have full confidence in @PeteHegseth and his team at DoD," Congressman Hamadeh wrote on X.com. "The fake news had its sights on him since he was first nominated, yet he's been moving positive changes at lightning speed."

A fearless defender of the First Amendment, Congressman Hamadeh, is urging news outlets to embrace President Ronald Reagan's motto of "trust but verify," before publishing "news" based on claims from individuals with no affinity for the facts or have nefarious motives.

Few news outlets reported about the fact that the Biden Administration's Department of Defense did not publicly disclose - in violation of the law - that one of the country's two National Command Authorities, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, was unable to perform his duties.

In contrast, it appears outlets are creating "news" out of whole cloth, eroding trust in our national security baselessly to the benefit of enemies both foreign and domestic.

Currently, a disconcerting debate is raging on social media as to what opinions and policy positions should and should not be allowed to be heard. Unlike other participating in that debate, a former U.S. Army Intelligence officer, would never call for censorship or for the silencing of opposing voices, but understands the effects of fake news and false narratives on the troops.

Given the fact that recruiting is up across the board for our military service branches to a 15-year high and morale is up among the troops thanks to Secretary Hegseth, it is not unreasonable to suspect that those spreading clearly false rumors about Secretary Hegseth might have not have our country's welfare in mind.

"While some of us are sacrificing our time with our families and friends to tirelessly promote peace through strength," said Congressman Hamadeh, sponsor of the PEACE Act, "propagandists posing as journalists are trying to undermine our country by spreading lies."