Trump Backs Hegseth, Calls Clash Reports 'Fake News'
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- Trump defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday after reports of a clash between the two at Camp David 'last week'
- The reported dispute centered on the depletion of the U.S. military's munition stockpiles during the war with Iran
- Trump dismissed the reporting as 'Fake News,' stating: 'The Fake News, as usual, is spreading false and completely unfounded rumors'
- Trump said he is 'extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth' is doing, per The Hill
- A separate poll sidebar on The Hill found 50 percent of Americans say U.S. military action in Iran will destabilize the Middle East
Why it matters: The underlying issue — munitions stockpile depletion tied to the Iran war — is a material national-security concern that extends beyond an interpersonal White House dispute. By publicly rebuking the reporting while affirming Hegseth, Trump is treating the account as a credibility challenge to his Defense Secretary rather than engaging the stockpile question itself, leaving the readiness gap unaddressed on the record.
