Will American journalists come to talk about the “8 o’clock follies” as they did for the 5 o’clock follies during the Vietnam War era?
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The “5 o’clock follies” refer to the daily press briefings held by the American army in a Saigon hotel from 1966 to 1973. After realizing the gap between official information and the reality on the ground, journalists gave these meetings the nickname “5 O’Clock Follies.”
Described by Richard Pyle, the Associated Press bureau chief in Saigon, as “the longest tragicomedy ever played in the theater of the absurd in Southeast Asia,” these follies were a unique phenomenon during the war.
While the Pentagon’s occasional press briefings on the Iran war at 8 o’clock have not yet been dubbed the “8 o’clock follies,” it may only be a matter of time. In the meantime, these briefings already bear the hallmark of absurd theater.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, during a press conference on March 13th, said, “For now, the only obstacle to passing through the [Strait of Hormuz] is the shots from Iran on the ships. Otherwise, navigation is open.”
The “Mother of All Press Conferences”
The success of a military operation does not solely depend on its spokesperson. But often, the spokesperson reflects the course of the war. For example, General Norman Schwarzkopf became the embodiment of the success of the “Operation Desert Storm” launched on January 17, 1991, to end the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait.
As head of the U.S. Central Command, the general conducted press briefings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, including the one on February 27, 1991, described as the “Mother of all Press Conferences” by a journalist.
In uniform, microphone attached to the collar and pointer in hand, the Vietnam War veteran used maps and graphics to explain in detail the ground phase of the operation, which lasted only 100 hours. The military leader, with a stern demeanor, showed no joy in describing the Iraqi army’s defeat but spoke emotionally and eloquently about American and allied losses.
A Washington Post television critic described it as “a performance as captivating as the best of Hamlet.”
No such praise was offered for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s press conference on April 11, 2003.
“Things happen,” he said regarding the widespread looting in Baghdad following the American invasion of Iraq.
Stuff happens.
Arrogance and Anger
Donald Rumsfeld’s flippancy was all the more remarkable as he was one of the main architects of the invasion [of Iraq], characterized by a “lightning and rapid force.” This force proved insufficient to prevent Iraq from descending into chaos after Saddam Hussein’s fall.
Pete Hegseth, former Fox News host, doesn’t display flippancy but rather arrogance and even anger, evident in his forceful delivery and arm-waving during speeches.
“This wasn’t supposed to be a fair fight, and it isn’t a fair fight. We strike while they’re down, which is exactly how it should be,” he boasted during a press conference on March 4.
In another press conference, he chastised the media for giving too much importance to the deaths of American soldiers killed by an Iranian strike.
PHOTO KONSTANTIN TOROPIN, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS Pete Hegseth at his press conference on March 4, 2026
“We control their destiny,” he said, referring to the Iranians. “But as soon as a few drones get through, or tragic events occur, it makes headlines. I understand, the press just wants to paint a bad picture of the president – but for once, try to report reality.”
Media, the Number One Enemy?
At times, Pete Hegseth gives the impression that the media are the main enemies in this war. During a press conference on March 13, he labeled a CNN report as “fake news” for suggesting that the Trump administration had underestimated the impact of its military offensive in Iran on the Strait of Hormuz.
“The sooner David Ellison takes control of this network, the better,” he said, referring to Larry Ellison’s son, a major ally of Donald Trump, in efforts to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company.
By targeting the media in this way, Pete Hegseth is sure to please Donald Trump, the most important member of his audience. However, he is also cultivating his image. The Pentagon, for instance, has banned photographers from attending press briefings on the war in Iran if they published unflattering photos of the Secretary of Defense.
In a press conference on March 19, the same Secretary of Defense offered another reply reminiscent of the absurd theater. “Our ungrateful allies in Europe, and even certain segments of our national press, should say one thing to President Trump: thank you,” he pleaded.
Back during the “5 O’clock Follies,” journalists gathered at the Rex Hotel in Saigon would have burst out laughing at such statements.
