{"id":2426451,"date":"2025-04-23T11:39:03","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T15:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-praises-defense-departments-first-100-days-as-tensions-continue\/"},"modified":"2025-04-23T12:13:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T16:13:22","slug":"hegseth-praises-defense-departments-first-100-days-as-tensions-continue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hegseth-praises-defense-departments-first-100-days-as-tensions-continue\/","title":{"rendered":"Hegseth praises Defense Department&#8217;s first 100 days as tensions continue"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhegseth-praises-defense-departments-first-100-days-as-tensions-continue%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2426451&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses Pete Hegseth&#8217;s remarks at the U.S. Army War College,where he defended his performance during his first 100 days as Secretary of Defense amidst ongoing challenges at the Pentagon. Hegseth emphasized the Department of Defense&#8217;s priorities, which include restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military, adn reestablishing deterrence. He also addressed the separation of service members who refused the COVID-19 vaccine and expressed a focus on accountability and readiness, distancing his administration from &#8220;wokeness&#8221; and &#8220;weakness.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Additionally,the piece highlights controversies surrounding Hegseth,particularly regarding his use of Signal group chats to share unclassified information,which has drawn scrutiny and led to the dismissal of several advisers. Despite the turmoil, he maintains support from President Trump and most Republicans, although he faced a challenging confirmation process due to concerns about his qualifications and past issues. The article notes that the Office of the Inspector General is investigating Hegseth&#8217;s communications practices.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hegseth praises Defense Department&rsquo;s first 100 days as tensions at Pentagon continue<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2102949\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Pete Hegseth<\/a>, whose tenure as secretary of defense has been mired in a series of events raising questions about his ability to lead the Department of Defense, defended his performance during an address to the U.S. Army War College on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;From Day One and each 100 of those days, our overriding objectives have been clear: restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Restoring the warrior ethos is one of the most fundamental of those three.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3388444\/watch-live-pete-hegseth-army-war-college\/\">WATCH LIVE: Pete Hegseth speaks at Army War College<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3387197\/pete-hegseth-signal-chat-shared-unclassified-info\/\">Hegseth acknowledges sharing &#8216;unclassified&#8217; info in Signal chats &#8216;then and now&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3387145\/hegseth-blames-hoaxsters-and-disgruntled-employees-for-troubles\/\">Hegseth blames hoaxers and disgruntled employees for his troubles, while White House says &lsquo;the entire Pentagon&rsquo; is against him<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Hegseth highlighted the DOD&rsquo;s outreach to the thousands of service members who were separated from the military over their refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine without an approved exemption, adding, &ldquo;We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind, and [are] refocusing on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards and [readiness].&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, jokes with Maj. Gen. David Hill, commandant of the Army War College, as he delivers remarks to students, faculty, and staff at the U.S. Army War College, April 23, 2025, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A day earlier, Hegseth admitted to using a Signal group chat to communicate &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3387197\/pete-hegseth-signal-chat-shared-unclassified-info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">then and now<\/a>.&rdquo; However, he has consistently denied <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-crenshaw-starts-whistleblower-page-to-expose-woke-ideology-in-military\/\" title=\"Rep. Crenshaw Starts Whistleblower Page to Expose &#039;Woke Ideology&#039; in Military\">sharing classified information<\/a> in those group chats since last month, when the news of his use of the app first broke.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth shared details about impending U.S. military operations in Yemen against the Houthis in two different group chats: one that included more than a dozen Cabinet members and the <em>Atlantic<\/em> editor-in-chief, who was accidentally added, and another that included his wife, brother, personal attorney, and advisers.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth implied Monday that news of the second group chat was revealed by his recently fired longtime advisers, who were a part of the group chat. While his brother Phil and personal attorney Tim Palatore have roles in the DOD, Hegseth&rsquo;s wife does not, and her appearances alongside him have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/04\/23\/politics\/role-of-pete-hegseth-wife-draws-scrutiny\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">raised eyebrows<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Now, as you may have noticed, the media likes to call it chaos. We call it overdue. How are the men and women responding to this call? Well, I can tell you, personally, it&rsquo;s going better than we could have ever expected,&rdquo; Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<p>The turmoil in Hegseth&rsquo;s office resulted in the dismissal of three advisers. His former <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">interim top spokesperson left<\/a> last week and publicly called him out, while his chief of staff is being reassigned in the building.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth&rsquo;s outgoing chief of staff, Joe Kasper, initiated the leak investigation that prompted the firings of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-appointees-decry-white-male-diplomacy\/\" title=\"Biden Appointees Decry \u2018White Male\u2019 Diplomacy\">senior adviser&#038;nbsp<\/a>;Dan&nbsp;Caldwell, deputy chief of staff&nbsp;Darin&nbsp;Selnick, and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense. All of them have said they didn&rsquo;t leak anything to the press.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump and all but one Republican on Capitol Hill have supported Hegseth. During his confirmation process, Hegseth did not receive Democratic support, and many in the party have called for his resignation or dismissal following the Signal group chat incidents.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3387197\/pete-hegseth-signal-chat-shared-unclassified-info\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">HEGSETH ACKNOWLEDGES SHARING &lsquo;UNCLASSIFIED&rsquo; INFO IN SIGNAL CHATS &lsquo;THEN AND NOW&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hegseth created the group chat that included his wife prior to his confirmation. Hegseth had one of the rockiest confirmation hearings of any Trump Cabinet selection due to concerns over his lack of experience leading a large organization, as well as questions about his alcohol consumption and a disputed sexual encounter that was investigated by police and did not result in any charges.<\/p>\n<p>The Office of the Inspector General is evaluating Hegseth&rsquo;s use of Signal, which is not approved for sharing classified information between government officials.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2102949\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2102949\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hegseth defends his first 100 days as Defense Secretary amid Pentagon tensions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2671,"featured_media":2426452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Hegseth-war-college.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[32685,46841,45173],"class_list":["post-2426451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-defense-department","tag-first-100-days","tag-hegseth"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Hegseth-war-college.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2671"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2426451"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2426455,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426451\/revisions\/2426455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2426452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2426451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2426451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2426451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}