Trump Defends Pete Hegseth, Calls War Secretary ‘One of My Best’
President Donald Trump offered a strong defense of War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday, rejecting reports of tensions between the two and making clear that he remains pleased with Hegseth’s performance leading the Pentagon.
“I think he’s actually one of my best,” Trump said of Hegseth during an interview with NBC News. The president described Hegseth as smart, deeply engaged in his job and respected throughout the military.
Trump’s comments came after a Washington Post report claimed he had lashed out at Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David over the state of America’s munitions stockpile. The report alleged Trump believed the issue had already been resolved and confronted Hegseth about shortages that could limit U.S. military options during the ongoing war with Iran.
The White House and Pentagon have strongly denied that account. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she was present at the Camp David meeting and insisted the reported confrontation never occurred, while the War Department dismissed the story as fictional.
Trump separately declared that the United States has “massive amounts” of munitions and said manufacturers are rapidly producing additional weapons. The president also warned that his administration is pursuing government leakers responsible for disclosing sensitive information about U.S. weapons inventories.
Trump went even further in another public statement, saying he was “extremely happy” with Hegseth’s performance. He credited the war secretary with making major changes at the Pentagon, including eliminating DEI policies and helping drive military recruitment to historic levels.
The president was also asked about speculation that outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could eventually replace Hegseth. Trump praised DeSantis and suggested he could envision another role for the Florida Republican, but firmly rejected the idea that he is considering removing Hegseth.
“I like Ron, but Pete’s doing a great job,” Trump said. He later reiterated that although he could see something happening with DeSantis elsewhere in his administration, it would not involve replacing Hegseth.
Hegseth faced questions about whether he could secure Senate confirmation when Trump originally selected him for the Pentagon, and DeSantis was reportedly considered as a possible alternative at the time. Hegseth ultimately won confirmation and has remained one of the most recognizable members of Trump’s national security team.
Despite the latest reports of internal friction, Trump is publicly standing firmly behind his war secretary. His latest remarks leave little indication that a Pentagon leadership change is under consideration, with the president instead praising Hegseth as one of the strongest members of his administration.