Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth compares media to Pharisees, ancient Jewish sect derided by Christians

Hegseth's comments follow a similar incident in 2019, when then-Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg compared Mike Pence to the Pharisees.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2026.
Reporters raise their hands to ask questions during a briefing on the Iran war with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine (not pictured), at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, US, April 16, 2026.

US ready to restart Iran war if no deal reached, Hegseth warns

AN IRANIAN flag flutters in the breeze

As Trump claims victory, Iran emerges bruised but powerful with leverage over Hormuz - analysis

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth talks about the war in Iran as President Donald Trump hosts the swearing-in ceremony for US Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin (R) in the Oval Office at the White House on March 2.

The 'final blow' doctrine: How Trump is rewriting the rules of American power - analysis


Democrats troubled by video of US strike on Caribbean drug boat, Republicans defend attack

The second strike, ordered by Admiral Frank Bradley, led some lawmakers to suggest that the US may have violated the law of war.

US Navy Admiral Frank "Mitch" Bradley walks in a hallway, as he departs a classified briefing for leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee on US strikes against Venezuelan boats suspected of smuggling drugs, on Capitol Hill in Washington, December 4, 2025.

New York Times sues Pentagon over press access

The Times challenges a Pentagon rule that could label reporters as security risks for seeking sensitive information.

People walk by The New York Times building in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 16, 2025.

Pentagon review faults Hegseth over Signal messages on Yemen strikes, sources say

Hegseth shared details on the imminent March 15 launch of attacks on Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi fighters with a group of security officials and accidentally included reporter Jeffrey Goldberg

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, after a meeting of NATO Defense Ministers at the Alliance headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium October 15, 2025.

White House says admiral approved second strike on boat from Venezuela, defends attack as lawful

The White House says Admiral Frank Bradley acted within the law, as lawmakers question the operation’s legality.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a meeting with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader at the National Palace, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic November 26, 2025.

Republicans press for answers on Venezuela strikes despite Trump’s backing

Republican lawmakers are demanding clarity on Venezuela boat strikes after reports of a second, possibly illegal, strike.

The US Navy’s Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, including the flagship USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Winston S. Churchill, USS Mahan and USS Bainbridge, sail towards the Caribbean Sea under F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, in the Atlantic Ocean November 13, 2025.

White House says Hegseth approved strikes on Venezuela boat, defends actions as legal

The White House says Pete Hegseth approved strikes on a Venezuelan vessel as lawmakers question the legality of the operation.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives at the US Capitol ahead of a briefing with members of Congress in Washington, DC, US, November 5, 2025.

Pete Hegseth gave orders to 'kill everybody' in Caribbean boat strike, officials urge caution

“The idea that wreckage from one small boat in a vast ocean is a hazard to marine traffic is patently absurd, and killing survivors is blatantly illegal,” one source knowledgeable of the matter said.

 US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Quantico, Virginia, US, September 30, 2025.

FBI probing Democrats who called for US military to refuse illegal Trump orders

US President Donald Trump also has accused the six Democrats of sedition and said in a social media post that the crime is punishable by death.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 12, 2025

US designates Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles a terrorist group, escalating pressure on Maduro

Venezuela's government rejected what it called a "ridiculous" US plan to designate the "non-existent" group.

Supporters march during a protest to support the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro on August 11, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela.

US F-35 jet sale to Saudi Arabia raises concerns over Israel's military edge in region - NYT

A Pentagon report also warns of the risk that China could acquire the advanced fighter jet technology through espionage or its security partnership with Saudi Arabia.

A US Marine Corps F-35 takes off from the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, October 29, 2025.