.jpg)
4 hours ago
1
Article content
(Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump said he thinks embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will “get it together,” telling the Atlantic he’ll stick with his choice to lead the Pentagon despite recent turmoil.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
Article content
“I think he’s gonna get it together,” Trump said in an April 24 interview with the magazine that was published Monday. “I think he’s a smart guy. He is a talented guy. He’s got a lot of energy. He’s been beat up by this, very much so. But I had a talk with him, a positive talk, but I had a talk with him.”
Article content
Article content
Asked if Hegseth would stay in the job, Trump responded, “Yeah, he’s safe.”
Article content
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and a veteran of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has faced an uproar over sharing details of a pending attack on Houthi militants in Yemen in two chats on Signal, an unsecured online platform. He also fired several of his advisers, accusing them of leaks to reporters.
Article content
So far, however, Trump and his team have stuck by Hegseth despite suggestions, including from his former spokesman, that he might well be fired. That marks a departure from Trump’s first term, when the president churned through several cabinet secretaries and top staff in short order.
Article content
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that Trump “absolutely has confidence in the secretary’s ability to lead the Pentagon. It’s why he nominated him for this position. It’s why the Senate voted to confirm him in this position.”
Article content
Article content
Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg and was one of those fired for the alleged leaks, denied the accusation that he’d done anything wrong in an interview on The Megyn Kelly Show.
Article content
Asked if Hegseth is alright, Carroll said “honestly, I don’t know — I’m not sure.”
Article content
“I have observed a Pete that is one Pete that crushes it in meetings,” he said, describing Hegseth as masterful in a meeting at the Pentagon with visiting lawmakers.
Article content
“At the same time, I’ve seen the secretary in more internal meetings where he is super-focused on very, in my opinion, weird details, and very agitated and yelling,” he said. “It’s like a tale of two Petes.”
Article content
(Updates with additional Trump comment in top three paragraphs.)
Article content
English (US)