Despite President Trump’s clear support for Pete Hegseth, a senior GOP official on Capitol Hill has indicated that there is significant private concern regarding Hegseth’s judgment. This GOP official noted, “you’re not going to hear a huge public outcry,” but emphasized that apprehensions about Hegseth’s capabilities are growing, especially in comparison to other figures like Waltz.
Hegseth, the Pentagon chief, has adopted Trump’s combative style, even mimicking the President’s distinctive Sharpie signature and producing campaign-style videos. However, his increasing number of mistakes is raising eyebrows among officials, with four sources and two individuals connected to the administration expressing concerns about his inexperience. A source close to the White House remarked, “What happens when Hegseth needs to manage a real crisis?”
While the Defense Department has not commented directly on the issues raised, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the White House’s stance against journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic. Parnell reiterated that the messages shared in the Signal chat did not contain classified materials or war plans, stating, “The secretary was merely updating the group on a plan that was underway and had already been briefed through official channels.”
Hegseth briefly addressed the controversy during a trip to the Indo-Pacific, asserting that the information in the messages “doesn’t look like war plans.” He added, “You know who sees war plans? I see them. Every single day.” However, this incident threatens to overshadow his significant trip, following a series of missteps, including a retraction of his comments regarding Ukraine war negotiations and a controversial proposal to relocate detained migrants to Guantanamo Bay.
The fallout from these incidents has prompted a wave of calls from Democratic lawmakers for Hegseth’s resignation. Progressive grassroots campaigns have emerged to investigate the Pentagon chief, and leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee have initiated a bipartisan probe into the matter. Rep. Dan Bacon, a Republican and retired Air Force brigadier general, emphasized the seriousness of the situation on social media, stating, “Intentionally putting classified info on an unclassified application is the real crime.”
Despite these challenges, many prominent GOP lawmakers continue to publicly support Hegseth. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a Trump ally, stated, “No one needs to lose their job over this, but we do need to get to the bottom of it and just be assured it’s not going to happen anymore.” The political implications of Hegseth’s confirmation process have already cost the administration considerable capital, and Trump allies are wary of another prolonged battle in the Senate should they need to replace him.
Hegseth has largely emulated President Trump’s approach, launching vehement attacks against the media while engaging with a predominantly conservative press corps. His strategy marks a stark contrast to past Pentagon leaders who refrained from cultivating a personal brand. This shift is particularly evident when compared to Waltz’s less effective methods, which have reportedly left Trump dissatisfied. A source familiar with Trump’s views on Waltz’s handling of a recent interview described it as “way too early for you to go on TV and talk about this. You’re still clearly rattled.”
Despite Trump’s reluctance to make significant personnel changes, some officials are increasingly worried about Hegseth’s ability to navigate the more challenging aspects of his role. A defense official commented, “Hegseth has done everything the White House has asked when it comes to culture wars, DEI, and Project 2025. But they’re nearing the end of those projects. Now comes the hard stuff: budgets, workforce, overseas basing, and dealing with allies.”
Democratic leaders remain skeptical that Trump will hold anyone accountable for the recent controversies. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, remarked, “It’s part of the Trump administration ethos. There are no rules, there are no standards, there is no truth, there is no accountability. What Trump says is the truth.”
