President Donald Trump is growing weary of the ongoing controversy involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to a new report.
Although the president publicly stood by Hegseth, he showed less enthusiasm behind closed doors. Atlantic reported Friday, citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the White House discussions.
“[Trump] Hegseth has grown weary of the scandals surrounding him and doesn’t back down when others suggest Hegseth isn’t ready for the job, an outside White House adviser and a former senior administration official told us. Atlantic Reported.
An unnamed senior administration official told the outlet that it had been a “bad week for Pete.”
Spokesmen for the White House and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment independent.
The president’s apparent displeasure comes as the Pentagon faces scrutiny for authorizing a second strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean on Sept. 2. A follow-up strike – referred to by some as a double tap – was launched after two survivors were seen clinging to the wrecked ship.
President Donald Trump is no longer pushing back after insiders complained that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth isn’t ready for the job, according to a new report. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
On Thursday, Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the Navy SEAL officer who heads the US Special Operations Command, showed lawmakers footage of the deadly strikes and answered questions.
Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters that the footage was “one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever seen in public service.” In contrast, Tom Cotton, the GOP chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the strikes “righteous” and “entirely legitimate.”
Hegseth said on Tuesday that the attack took place within the “fog of war” and that Bradley had acted “within his authority and within the law”.
Apart from the double-tap controversy, Hegseth has drawn widespread criticism for his campaign targeting suspected smugglers, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 86 people. Some lawmakers and human rights groups have called the attack illegal, accusing it of being used to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Republicans, however, have largely supported the crackdowns, arguing they help stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
This week, the Defense Department’s inspector general also released findings from an investigation into Hegseth’s use of Signal Chat to post details about strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The report concluded the former Fox News‘ Anchor’s actions could put US employees in harm’s way. At a discussion Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Hegseth said he had “no regrets” about using the signal.
President Trump has publicly endorsed the Pentagon chief, telling reporters on Tuesday, “Pete is doing a great job.” White House press secretary Carolyn Levitt also defended the military’s second strike in September. However, behind-closed-doors, things may be different, Atlantic Report claims.
On Thursday, Hegseth ordered a new strike that killed four alleged drug traffickers. (X/@Southcom)
“Trump isn’t happy that Republicans on Capitol Hill are using Hegseth’s record as a reason to run for the White House, another sign of the cracks in the GOP’s loyalty to Trump until recently,” the outlet said.
This week, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told CNN that Hegseth was wrong to claim that the inspector general’s report on his use of Signal Chat exonerated him.
“No one can rationalize this as a boycott,” Tillis said. “We know that the mission information was outside of the classified setting that it was believed to be.”
On Friday, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul called Hegseth to testify under oath about the boat attack.
“I think Congress, if they had any inclination at all, would not have allowed this administration to summarily execute people suspected of crimes,” he said. independent.
Still, many Republicans have stood by Hegseth and argued that the Pentagon is doing better under his leadership. And a senior administration official said Atlantic That the president can’t afford to fire Hegseth and face another Senate confirmation fight.
“People around the president have always felt that Hegseth was not really qualified for the job,” this official said. “But he’s redeemed himself in the eyes of the president because he’s really devoted to Trump. That goes a long way. Taking Pete with all his baggage, that’s what it’s going to be like.”
At the same time, Trump has given no sign of slowing down the boat attacks. Instead, he suggested that military operations could escalate.
“Very soon we will start doing this on the ground as well,” the president said Wednesday.
