US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is confronting the most severe challenge of his tenure, embroiled in a dual scandal involving alleged war crimes in the Caribbean and the mishandling of sensitive military intelligence. Despite mounting pressure, he retains the backing of President Donald Trump.
Allegations of Recklessness at the Pentagon
The twin controversies engulfing the former Fox News personality involve separate but connected accusations. Lawmakers, policy experts, and former officials argue they reveal a dangerous pattern of recklessness in leadership at the Department of Defence.
Democratic legislators have renewed calls for his removal following revelations about a September boat strike. It is alleged that survivors clinging to wreckage were deliberately killed in a subsequent "double-tap" attack. Concurrently, a defence department inspector general's report released on Thursday concluded Hegseth violated Pentagon policy by sharing classified details via the Signal messaging app just hours before airstrikes in Yemen.
Hegseth's Defiant Stance and Trump's Support
Pete Hegseth dismissed criticism of the Caribbean operations during a keynote speech on Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. He asserted that President Trump holds the authority to take military action "as he sees fit." The strikes, which have resulted in over 80 fatalities, are under intense scrutiny for potential breaches of international law.
"If you're working for a designated terrorist organization and you bring drugs to this country in a boat, we will find you and we will sink you. Let there be no doubt about it," Hegseth declared. "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."
Broader Administration Controversies
The crisis surrounding the defence secretary unfolds alongside other contentious actions by the Trump administration. President Trump and senior officials have escalated hostile rhetoric towards immigrants, following an incident where an Afghan man was named a suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC on 26 November.
In related developments, experts have raised alarms over changes at the Pentagon press corps, where credentials once held by established journalists are now predominantly held by right-wing commentators and administration allies. Furthermore, a US senator has condemned an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation where an "attack dog" allegedly caused horrific injuries to an unresisting man.
As the inspector general's report circulates and congressional pressure builds, Hegseth's position appears increasingly precarious, yet his defiance—bolstered by presidential support—signals a protracted political battle ahead.
