The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, under investigation for mismanagement of confidential military information, traveled to Michigan on Tuesday along with President Donald Trump in what seemed to be a show support to the head of the Pentagon whose rocky mandate has caused calls from the Democrats for their resignation.
Speaking at the base of the National Air Guard of Selfridge, Trump presented to his Secretary of Defense to the members of the Guard, telling them that Hegseth was doing “a great job.”
In a short comment after Trump, Hegseth praised the president.
“Just because the commander in chief invited me,” Hegseth said, pointing to Trump. “Lord President, thanks for restoring the warrior spirit within our formations, for rebuilding our army, restoring deterrence worldwide and making Americans be proud to use the uniform.”
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, speaks while the president of the United States, Donald Trump, listens during the comments to the Michigan National Guard at the base of the National Air Guard of Selfridge in Warren, Michigan, on April 29, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Images
Heghseth then added: “Everything I always wanted when I was in combat was to know that my commander backed me regardless of what, and with Donald J Trump, that commander supports you.”
Hegesh’s office refused to answer questions about why he was added to Trump’s entourage as part of the president’s trip to celebrate his 100 days in office. Hegesh’s participation was not previously announced.
Trump had to speak later with a multitude of rally in Warren, Michigan, to promote his achievements during his first 100 days. He joined the base by Michigan’s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, when he announced that Selfridge would receive 21 F-15 combatants who will reinforce their future.
Hegesh, an infantry officer of the National Guard of the US Army.
“From the first day, our primary objectives have been clear: restore the warrior spirit, rebuild our military and restore deterrence,” said Sean Parnell, Hegseth’s main advisor. “In 100 days, the Department of Defense and our warriors have delivered historical victories for the American people.”
Hegesh, a former Fox News presenter, was confirmed by the Senate earlier this year after accusations of bad financial management in a non -profit organization of veterans, sexual assault and thorough drink, all the accusations that denies and say they aimed to stain their reputation.
Two months after Hegseth took the helm in the Pentagon, Atlantic reported that he was using the commercial courier application signal to update other national security officials, including vice president JD Vance, with detailed plans for a military attack against the hutis rebels in Yemen. Hegseth then used a second signal chat to provide details sensitive to his wife, brother and personal lawyer, ABC News confirmed.
The Guardian dog independent of the Pentagon, the interim inspector general of the Department of Defense, Steven Stebbins, said he would investigate the use of the Hegseth signal and others.
Later, Trump told the Atlantic that he spoke with Hegseth after the reports.
The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegesh, arrives before President Donald Trump talks to the members of the Michigan National Guard at the base of the National Air Guard of Selfridge, on April 29, 2025, in the municipality of Harrison, Mich.
Alex Brandon/AP
“I think he will gather it,” Trump said about Hegseth. “I had a conversation with him, a positive talk, but I had a talk with him.”
In addition to the tumult there is the departure of several main assistants to the secretary. The Hegseth Cabinet Chief Joe Kasper recently resigned, moving to a part -time advice. Hegseth shot three other nearby assistants so he said it was filtration, although attendees say that researchers have not been addressed and still are not clear what the accusations are. And a fifth advisor resigned, writing a scathing opinion article that calls the handling of the Pentagon by Hegesh “total chaos“
For his part, Hegseth said he is fighting to promulgate the president’s agenda. On Tuesday, shortly before leaving on his trip with the president, Hegseth said that “proudly” ended a small defense department program aimed at reinforcing women’s participation to help resolve conflicts abroad, calling for an “social initiative/justice/divisive/social biden.”
Trump signed the program, called “Women, Peace and Security”, during their first term in 2017 after several Republicans, including the current members of the Trump Cabinet, Kristi Noem and Marco Rubio, who were legislators at that time, sponsored the bill.
In 2019, the Trump Administration described a strategy to implement the program, including insistence on the female representation of other countries during peace conversations. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, was among her supporters.
“Peace processes and peace consolidation efforts are more successful when women have influential roles,” the Trump administration wrote at that time.
But according to Hegseth, the program never worked.
“Politicians admit it; troops hate him,” Hegesh insisted.
Hegesh acknowledged in a later position that the effort was in fact a Trump initiative with republican support. Then he accused the Biden administration of ruining her.
In 2021, President Joe Biden and Congress put $ 5.5 million in DOD expenses to implement the law, including contracting and training personnel.
