Former President Donald Trump greets members of the Georgia National guard during his visit to Evans, Ga., on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. Trump came to get a briefing on Hurricane Helene and speak to supporters.

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump appears to differ with War Secretary Pete Hegseth about the Pentagon’s new restrictions for reporters.

The president indicated that the Pentagon shouldn't decide what the press can or can't report, in comments to reporters on Sept. 21. A senior administration official told USA TODAY that reporters may not use information that compromises national security.

Trump's statement contradicts new rules issued by Hegseth and the Pentagon that say reporters who try to obtain or publish information that has not been authorized for public release could lose their press access, according to a 17-page document obtained by USA TODAY. The document notes that "information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified."

The memo also says reporters could get their credentials revoked if they engage in "unprofessional conduct that might serve to disrupt Pentagon operations," including "attempts to improperly obtain" or "being found in physical possession of" classified national security information or controlled unclassified information.

Asked days after the rules were released whether the Pentagon should be in charge of deciding what reporters can report on, Trump told reporters, "No, I don’t think so."

"Listen, nothing stops reporters," he added.

In an X post on Sept. 19, however, Hegseth wrote that, "The ‘press’ does not run the Pentagon − the people do. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules − or go home."

The National Press Club President Mike Balsamo wrote in a statement that the new Pentagon mandate is a "direct assault on independent journalism at the very place where independent scrutiny matters most: the U.S. military."

"If the news about our military must first be approved by the government, then the public is no longer getting independent reporting. It is getting only what officials want them to see. That should alarm every American," Balsamo said. He called for the restrictions to be lifted.

In January, the Pentagon removed several major news organizations, including NBC News, from their workspaces after instituting a new "annual media rotation program."

(This article has been updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump contradicts Hegseth's directive about press access to the Pentagon

Reporting by Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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