Pete Hegseth has brutally shut down a reporter for asking an ‘unqualified’ question critical of the nation’s newly nominated highest-ranking military officer.
Hegseth, a Trump ally and newly sworn in Secretary of Defense, appeared at a round table event with the Saudis on Monday where they discussed security measures against Iran.
When taking questions from the press, Hegseth was incensed by a journalist who asked why he ‘selected an underqualified retired lieutenant general to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?’
The question refers to Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, who President Trump this week nominated for the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Hegseth immediately hit back, responding: ‘I’m going to choose to reject your unqualified question. Who’s next?’
His no-nonsense response has sparked praise from supporters who said he nailed ‘taking control of the press.’
‘He handled that stupid question well,’ one supporter said after video of the interaction went viral on X.
‘The taking of stupid questions isn’t well received by these cabinet members. Gotcha questions do not have to be answered, instead, ridicule the press member who asked the stupid question. This is the way!’
When taking questions from the press, Hegseth was incensed by a journalist who asked why he ‘selected an underqualified retired lieutenant general to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?’
Hegseth, a Trump ally and newly sworn in Secretary of Defense, appeared at a round table event with the Saudis on Monday where they discussed security measures against Iran
Others argued that the criticism of Caine is unwarranted and is a product of anti-Trump activists looking for any excuse to discredit his picks.
‘The media spent years praising unqualified ”historic firsts” who wrecked entire agencies, but suddenly experience matters when it’s someone Trump picks?,’ one said.
Caine would become the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.
‘General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience,’ Trump said when announcing his nomination.
Trump praised Caine for helping him orchestrate ‘the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate’ during his first term.
He then turned his ire toward his predecessor, saying Caine should’ve gotten the job under the last presidency.
Trump wrote: ‘Despite being highly qualified and respected to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the previous administration, General Caine was passed over for promotion by Sleepy Joe Biden. But not anymore!’
He said that Caine, Hegseth and the military will work hand-in-hand to bring about the Trump administration’s ‘peace through strength’ agenda.
His no-nonsense response has sparked praise from supporters who said he nailed ‘taking control of the press’
Caine would become the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council
As commander in chief, Trump has the power to fire any officer at will
Current and former US officials say Trump will prioritize loyalty in his second term and root out military officers and career civil servants he perceives to be disloyal.
As commander in chief, Trump has the power to fire any officer at will.
Hegseth was meeting with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Monday to discuss the ongoing threat of Iran.
‘That’s a topic we’re going to talk about today. Iran is a big concern in the region,’ he said at the Pentagon.
‘Saudi Arabia has been a great partner and that’s something we’re going to discuss.’
The meeting came as the United States imposed further sanctions in Iranian oil.
Dozens of people and oil tankers across China, the United Arab Emirates, India and other jurisdictions were sanctioned for allegedly helping to finance Iran and its support for militant groups.
‘We will see whether or not we can arrange or work out a deal with Iran,’ Trump said earlier this month.
‘We don’t want to be tough on Iran. We don’t want to be tough on anybody, but they just can’t have a nuclear bomb.’
Trump added that he’s given his advisers instructions to obliterate Iran if it assassinates him.
