During a press conference on Thursday, June 26, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth angrily railed against the media — including an ex-colleague. The former Fox News host told Fox News' Jennifer Griffin, "Jennifer, you’ve been about the worst, the one who misrepresents the most intentionally."

Hegseth's critics are describing his performative behavior as highly unprofessional, including Never Trump conservative and former GOP strategist Tim Miller — who told MSNBC's Chris Jansing he is making the Pentagon look "unserious." And on CNN, Iraq War veteran Paul Rieckhoff complained that Hegseth's "conduct" was "unbecoming" and does the Pentagon a huge disservice.

Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, told CNN's Abby Phillip, "He looks rattled. He obviously looks thin-skinned. He’s extremely aggressive and volatile."

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The veteran emphasized that reporters aren't disrespecting the military when they ask tough questions about President Donald Trump's decision to launch three strikes against nuclear facilities in Iran. Hegseth, Rieckhoff complained, continues to "conflate the war with the warriors."

Rieckhoff told Phillip, "It's entirely separate, and they're using it (the military) consistently as a very dangerous shield, which continues to politicize our military — which is their playbook now, which is very, very dangerous."

Rieckoff also said of Hegseth, "He's attacking the press. We need him to attack our enemies. I wish he attacked (Russian President) Vladimir Putin as aggressively as he attacked CNN and others."

READ MORE: 'Unamerican': Ex-GOP strategist slams 'lack of seriousness' from Trump's Pentagon

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