President Donald Trump is growing tired of the ongoing controversy plaguing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a new report says.
While the president has supported Hegseth in public, he has been less enthusiastic in private. Atlantic reported on Friday, citing several unnamed sources familiar with White House discussions.
“[Trump] An outside White House adviser and a former senior administration official told CNN that he had grown tired of the scandal surrounding Hegseth and would not push back when others suggested Hegseth was not right for the job. atlantic the report said.
“It’s been a tough week for Pete,” a senior administration source told the outlet on condition of anonymity.
Spokespeople for the White House and 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 Sept. 2 on a suspected drug-trafficking ship in the Caribbean. The follow-up strike – dubbed the “double tap” by some – was launched after two survivors were seen clinging to the wrecked vessel.
President Donald Trump is no longer pushing back when insiders complain that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is unfit for the job, a new report says. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Gen. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the SEAL officer who leads U.S. Special Operations Command, showed footage of the fatal attack to lawmakers on Thursday and answered questions.
Democratic Rep. Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, told reporters that the video was “one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in my time in public office.” In contrast, Republican Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton called the attack “just” and “completely legal.”
Hegseth said Tuesday that the attack occurred within the “fog of war” and said Bradley acted “within the bounds of his authority and the law.”
In addition to the Double Tap controversy, Hegseth has drawn wider criticism for his operation against suspected human traffickers, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 86 people. Some lawmakers and human rights groups have called the attacks illegal, claiming they are used to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. However, Republicans largely support the attacks, arguing they will help stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
This week, the Defense Department’s inspector general also released findings of an investigation into Hegseth’s use of Signal chat to post details about attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The report concluded that the former fox newsThe anchor’s actions could put U.S. personnel in harm’s way. During a discussion at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Saturday, Hegseth said he had “no regrets” about using Signal.
President Trump publicly backed the Pentagon chief, telling reporters on Tuesday that “Pete did a great job.” White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt also defended the military’s second attack in September. Behind closed doors, however, things may look different, atlantic Report a claim.
On Thursday, Hegseth ordered a new raid that killed four suspected drug dealers. (X/@Southcom)
The media said: “Trump is unhappy that some Republicans on Capitol Hill are using Hegseth’s record as a reason to fight the White House, which is further evidence of the cracks in the party’s until recently staunch loyalty to Trump.”
This week, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis 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 exoneration,” Tillis said. “We know the mission information did not belong to the classified environment in which it was trusted.”
On Friday, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul called on Hegers to testify under oath about the boat attack.
“I don’t think Congress, if they had any gumption, would allow this administration to immediately execute people suspected of committing crimes,” he told independent.
Still, some Republicans support Hegseth and believe the Pentagon is functioning well under his leadership. A senior government official told atlantic The president cannot afford to fire Hegers and endure another Senate confirmation battle.
“People around the president have always felt that Hegers was not really qualified for the job,” the official said. “But he’s redeemed himself in the eyes of the president because he’s truly loyal to Trump. That’s a long way to go. Bring Pete, bring all his baggage, and that’s how it will go.”
Trump, meanwhile, gave no indication that the ship attacks would slow down. Instead, he suggested a possible escalation of military action.
“Soon we will start doing this on land as well,” the president said Wednesday.