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Senators are increasingly frustrated with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon, with a significant group of lawmakers anticipating his potential downfall.
The latest controversy from the Defense Department emerged this week when Hegseth paused certain weapons shipments to Ukraine, a decision that reportedly took President Trump by surprise.
Officially, the White House has denied any information gap between Hegseth, 45, and the president.
But when asked on Monday who ordered the shipment pause, Trump responded: ‘I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?’
That response created an uncomfortable moment – and not least because the president sat next to Hegseth as he spoke.
Soon after, the Trump administration resumed the weapons shipments.
This incident has prompted senators from both parties to question whether former Fox News host Hegseth is suitable for the role—a concern dating back to his confirmation process earlier this year, when his past drinking and infidelity were publicly scrutinized.
It also comes after his humiliating involvement in the ‘Signalgate’ scandal in March, when a reporter was inadvertently added to a government group chat – on the encrypted app ‘Signal’ – discussing top secret military strikes in Yemen.
Some in the Senate are fed up with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ‘s leadership at the Pentagon and a large coalition of lawmakers are eagerly awaiting his downfall
The latest blunder out of the Defense Department came this week after Hegseth paused some weapons shipments to Ukraine , a move which reportedly surprised President Trump himself
The incident has now sparked senators on both sides of the aisle to openly question whether former Fox News host Hegseth is the right man for the job
That episode resulted in Mike Waltz stepping down from his role as national security advisor.
Things were then made worse in April when a slew of high-ranking officials, including Hegseth’s chief of staff, left the department after yet more leaks – including of confidential details about a sensitive trip to the Panama Canal.
Hegseth survived both debacles – but neither blemish has been forgotten.
‘Was Trump told personally by Hegseth [about the Ukraine weapons pause]? Maybe not,’ one Republican senator told the Daily Mail. ‘Does that mean Hegseth didn’t tell anybody? Not necessarily. [It’s] possible he was totally freelancing.’
This senator shared that they personally like Hegseth. ‘But there are a lot of people who are sharpening knives,’ they warned.
‘People who didn’t want him in the first place. There are a lot of people who would be delighted to see him go. A lot of people.’
In a statement, Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell pushed back, telling the Daily Mail: ‘President Trump has repeatedly praised Secretary Hegseth for his leadership and endorsed his ability to get the job done – that has not and will not change.’
As for the White House, deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement: ‘President Trump has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth, who is doing an incredible job leading the DOD. There is no wedge between the President and Secretary Hegseth.’
But there are plenty of Republicans who say otherwise.
This week, Senator Thom Tillis, R-N.C. – who in June said he would not seek re-election – suggested that he regretted casting the deciding vote to confirm Hegseth.
‘I think it’s clear he’s out of his depth as a manager of a large, complex organization,’ Tillis said.
Meanwhile, Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told the Daily Mail: ‘I think it would be really unusual for a Secretary of Defense to put a pause on assets to somebody like Ukraine, who we want to help, without consulting the president.’
‘But it sounds like the president stepped in and kind of changed that directive, huh? Interesting.’
Murkowski is one of three Republican senators who did not vote for Hegseth’s confirmation, alongside Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell.
Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted against Hegseth’s confirmation earlier this year, said it was ‘interesting’ how the president had stepped in to resume the flow of munitions to Ukraine
Hegseth’s nomination to Trump’s cabinet was one of the most tedious, as multiple reports surfaced highlighting his past drunken behavior and alleged treatment of women.
In the hearings, Hegseth admitted he is ‘not a perfect person’ – but denied any wrongdoing against women.
Hegseth has been married three times and has been with his current wife, Jennifer Rauchet, since 2019.
He has admitted to cheating on his first wife at least five times, Vanity Fair reported.
Predictably, Democrats are celebrating rumors of a rift between Trump and Hegseth.
‘Hegseth has unfortunately fulfilled predictions that he’d be disastrous in that position,’ Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) said.
‘It just shows you the dysfunction of the executive branch,’ New Jersey’s Andy Kim added.
