Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, below investigation for mishandling delicate navy info, traveled to Michigan on Tuesday alongside President Donald Trump in what seemed to be a present of assist for the Pentagon chief whose rocky tenure has prompted calls by Democrats for his resignation.
Talking at Selfridge Air Nationwide Guard Base, Trump launched his secretary of protection to the Guard members, telling them Hegseth was doing “a extremely nice job.”
Briefly remarks following Trump, Hegseth praised the president.
“Solely as a result of the commander in chief invited me,” Hegseth mentioned, gesturing to Trump. “Mr. President, thanks for restoring the warrior ethos inside our formations, for rebuilding our navy, reestablishing deterrence all over the world and making People proud to put on the uniform.”
Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, speaks as US President Donald Trump listens throughout remarks to the Michigan Nationwide Guard at Selfridge Air Nationwide Guard Base in Warren, Michigan, April 29, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Photos
Hegseth later added: “All I ever wished once I was in fight was to know that my commander had my again it doesn’t matter what, and with Donald J Trump, that commander has your again.”
Hegseth’s workplace declined to reply questions on why he was added to Trump’s entourage as a part of the president’s journey to have a good time his 100 days in workplace. Hegseth’s involvement was not beforehand introduced.
Trump was to talk later to a rally crowd in Warren, Michigan, to tout his achievements throughout his first 100 days. He was joined on the base by Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as he introduced that Selfridge would obtain 21 F-15 fighters which is able to bolster its future.
An infantry officer within the U.S. Army Nationwide Guard, Hegseth deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan earlier than leaving the service with the rank of main, in accordance with navy information.
“From Day One, our overriding goals have been clear: restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our navy, and reestablishing deterrence,” mentioned Sean Parnell, a senior adviser to Hegseth. “In 100 days, the Division of Protection and our warfighters have delivered historic victories for the American folks.”
Hegseth, a former Fox Information anchor, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate earlier this 12 months following allegations of monetary mismanagement at a veterans nonprofit, sexual assault and heavy consuming — all allegations he denies and says had been geared toward smearing his fame.
Two months after Hegseth took the helm on the Pentagon, The Atlantic reported he was utilizing the industrial messaging app Sign to replace different nationwide safety officers, together with Vice President JD Vance, with detailed plans for a navy assault on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Hegseth then used a second Sign chat to supply delicate particulars to his spouse, brother and private lawyer, ABC Information confirmed.
The Pentagon’s impartial watchdog, DOD appearing Inspector Common Steven Stebbins, mentioned he would examine the usage of Sign by Hegseth and others.
Trump later advised The Atlantic that he spoke with Hegseth following the studies.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives earlier than President Donald Trump speaks to members of the Michigan Nationwide Guard at Selfridge Air Nationwide Guard Base, April 29, 2025, in Harrison Township, Mich.
Alex Brandon/AP
“I feel he is gonna get it collectively,” Trump mentioned of Hegseth. “I had a chat with him, a optimistic discuss, however I had a chat with him.”
Including to the tumult is the departure of a number of high aides to the secretary. Hegseth’s chief of employees, Joe Kasper, lately stepped down, transferring right into a part-time advisory position. Hegseth fired three different shut aides for what he mentioned was leaking, though the aides say they haven’t been approached by investigators and stay unclear what the allegations are. And a fifth adviser resigned, writing a scathing opinion article calling Hegseth’s dealing with of the Pentagon “total chaos.”
For his half, Hegseth mentioned he is preventing to enact the president’s agenda. On Tuesday, shortly earlier than leaving on his journey with the president, Hegseth mentioned he “proudly” ended a small Protection Division program geared toward bolstering the participation of ladies in serving to to resolve abroad conflicts, calling the trouble a “woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative.”
This system — referred to as “Girls, Peace and Safety” — was signed into regulation by Trump throughout his first time period in 2017 after a number of Republicans, together with present Trump Cupboard members Kristi Noem and Marco Rubio, who had been lawmakers on the time, sponsored the invoice.
In 2019, the Trump administration outlined a method for implementing this system, together with insisting upon feminine illustration by different international locations throughout peace talks. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, was amongst its supporters.
“Peace processes and peacebuilding efforts are extra profitable when girls have influential roles,” the Trump administration wrote on the time.
However in accordance with Hegseth, this system by no means labored.
“Politicians fawn over it; troops HATE it,” Hegseth insisted.
Hegseth acknowledged in a subsequent publish that the trouble was certainly a Trump initiative with Republican assist. He then accused the Biden administration of ruining it.
In 2021, President Joe Biden and Congress put $5.5 million in DOD spending towards implementing the regulation, together with hiring and coaching personnel.
