Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski took a dig at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's manhood while discussing the war in Iran on Thursday.
Brzezinski had been criticizing Hegseth's removal of photographers from the last two press briefings when she made the suggestive snipe.
'I don't think photos are his problem. I think his actual qualifications for the job and his grotesque talk about death and destruction and the need to sound strong - it's total, like, I mean, you can take a bad picture of Pete Hegseth if you want, but it's what comes out of his mouth that's the problem.
'He's totally overcompensating for something that's missing in his life - or just not the right size. I don't know what,' she said.
'I mean, this is not a defense secretary. This is a joke.'
The remarks led Brzezinski's co-host, Joe Scarborough, to quickly cut in, 'Thank you, Madam Admiral!'.
Almost immediately, some cackle-filled crosstalk commenced.
Visiting former US Admiral John Kirby embarked on a full-on belly laugh amid the response.
Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski was criticizing Pete Hegseth's removal of photographers from the last two Iran war press briefings when she made a crack about his manhood on Thursday
'He's totally overcompensating for something that's missing in his life - or just not the right size. I don't know what,' the host said - adding of Hegseth, 'I don't think photos are his problem'.
The secretary of defense is seen here at an Iran press briefing on Wednesday
'I'll say it so you don't have to,' Brzezinski, 58, remarked.
MS NOW - formerly MSNBC - went on to post the moment on YouTube.
A title touted it as Brzezinski's 'react[ion] to the Pentagon banning photographers from press briefings.'
Former Pentagon Press Secretary Kirby during the segment said he 'hope[d] [the Department of Defense] reconsider this policy.'
'Because I think it's self-defeating,' he said.
The retired rear admiral ultimately agreed that the edict hinders any 'efforts to communicate with the American people' and accumulate trust.
The Washington Post on Wednesday, citing two sources, reported that members of Hegseth's staff were unhappy with how the secretary looked in a photograph taken on March 2 - the former Fox News host's first in the briefing room since June 2025.
The new policy was enacted within days - during which span outlets like The New York Times and CNN began probing the bombing of a girls' school in Iran on February 28.
Retired Rear Admiral John Kirby doubled over in laughter at Brzezinski's remarks. A recent report claimed members of Hegseth's staff were unhappy with how the secretary looked in a March 2 photograph
Officials have since said the strike - which killed 175 - was likely a mistake by US forces. Donald Trump and Hegseth, 45, were grilled about the matter on Tuesday, during the second briefing where photographers were barred.
'It's under investigation,' Hegseth - whose tenure has seen the DoD unofficially ordained as 'The Department of War' - said at the time.
Photographers were initially barred from briefings on March 4.
The Pentagon explained the decision in a statement, saying it was due to space.
'If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential,' said Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson.
The exclusion of photographers from outlets such as the Associated Press, The Times and Reuters is set to continue, for now. It remains unclear which photos - if any - set Hegseth off.