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President Trump expressed full-throated support for War Secretary Pete Hegseth Thursday – a day after a report claimed the president accused the Pentagon chief of misleading him about the state of America’s arms stockpile.
“I think he’s actually one of my best,” Trump said of Hegseth, in an interview with NBC News Thursday. “I’m very good at this stuff.”
Six months into the Iran war, and with the critical midterm elections fast approaching, the president gave no indication that he plans to shake things up at the Pentagon.
“Smart guy,” Trump said of Hegseth. “He’s very much into it. Respected by the military.”
The president’s praise for the former “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host follows a Washington Post report Wednesday that he lashed out at Hegseth during a Camp David Cabinet meeting last week.
Trump reportedly fumed that munitions shortages threatened to limit US military options in Iran. The president told Hegseth that he thought the issue “had been fixed,” according to the outlet, which claimed the war secretary blamed his deputy for the miscommunication.
Both the White House and the Pentagon denied the Washington Post report, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt declaring it “B.S.” and War Department spokesman Sean Parnell calling it “fictional.”
Earlier Thursday, Trump took to Truth Social and asserted the US “ has massive amounts of ‘munitions.’”
“Additionally, large amounts are being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed,” Trump declared.
The president also threatened to jail the “leakers” claiming the US is running out of firepower.
“Defense companies are building the largest number of plants and factories in our country’s history,” Trump wrote. “The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down. Long term jail sentences will be sought!”
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump affirmed that he is “extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing.”
“Everything has been extraordinary, including our attack on Venezuela,” the president added. “Pete is highly respected within the Military, and has made tremendous improvements, including getting rid of DEI, and increasing recruitment to historic levels.”
In his interview with NBC News, Trump was specifically asked about the possibility of replacing Hegseth with outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“I like Ron, but Pete’s doing a great job,” Trump responded. “I do like Ron. I get along very well with Ron. I could see Ron for something, but Pete’s doing a great job.”
Trump reportedly considered tapping DeSantis for the top Pentagon post in December 2024 amid concerns Hegseth wouldn’t be able to secure enough Senate support for confirmation.
DeSantis, who ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primaries, has been rumored in recent months to have interest in serving as the president’s attorney general or war secretary. The Florida governor’s term ends in January.
“I just get along with Ron,” Trump said. “I could see something happening there, but not with Pete.
“Pete’s doing a great job.”
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