Gabrielle Cuccia, a staunchly pro-Trump journalist, was dismissed from One America News Network after criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s press restrictions, highlighting internal leaks and raising concerns about press freedom.
At a Glance
- Gabrielle Cuccia, a self-described “MAGA girl” and former Pentagon correspondent for One America News Network (OAN), was fired after criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new media restrictions.
- In a Substack post, Cuccia exposed that the real Pentagon leaks came from Hegseth’s own team, not journalists, despite the administration’s claims.
- The new Pentagon policy requires journalists to be escorted by public affairs staff to access Hegseth’s office, which Cuccia argues masks censorship as “national security.”
- Despite her pro-Trump background and previous work in Trump’s first administration, Cuccia was forced to surrender her Pentagon badge after publishing her criticism.
When Even MAGA Journalists Get Canceled for Speaking Truth
In a striking example of internal dissent within pro-Trump media circles, Gabrielle Cuccia, a self-proclaimed “MAGA girl” and former chief Pentagon correspondent for One America News Network (OAN), was terminated after publicly criticizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s restrictive media policies. Cuccia’s Substack post, titled “The Secretary of Defense-ive,” condemned the Pentagon’s increasing limitations on press access, including the requirement for journalists to be escorted by public affairs staff when accessing Hegseth’s office.
Cuccia highlighted that the real leaks from the Pentagon originated from Hegseth’s own team, not from journalists. She pointed to the “Signalgate” incident, where Hegseth allegedly shared sensitive military details in a group chat that inadvertently included a journalist from The Atlantic.
Watch a report: Gabrielle Cuccia discusses her firing and press restrictions.
The “Signalgate” Smokescreen
The Pentagon’s justification for the media crackdown stems from the “Signalgate” scandal. Rather than taking responsibility for his team’s leaks, Hegseth implemented policies that severely restrict journalist movement, making independent journalism virtually impossible.
Cuccia criticized the new policy requiring journalists to be escorted by public affairs staff, arguing that it masks censorship as “national security.” She emphasized that such restrictions are an affront to the First Amendment principles that conservatives are supposed to cherish.
When Truth Becomes Inconvenient, Even for “Our Side”
Cuccia’s firing underscores the challenges faced by journalists navigating editorial loyalty and professional integrity in polarized media environments. Despite her strong conservative credentials and previous work in Trump’s first administration, her criticism of Hegseth’s press restrictions led to her dismissal.
She lamented the tendency within the MAGA movement to dismiss legitimate concerns as hoaxes when they challenge preferred narratives. Cuccia’s experience raises concerns about press freedom and internal dissent among pro-Trump media.
This incident highlights the tension between loyalty
