Pete Hegseth is facing the most serious crisis of his tenure as defense secretary, plagued by allegations of war crimes in the Caribbean and a sharp inspector general report accusing him of mishandling secret military intelligence.
But Hegseth shows no signs of resigning and continues to enjoy the support of Donald Trump.
covered two crises former Fox News personality in separate but overlapping allegations that lawmakers, political pundits and former officials say reveal a pattern of dangerous recklessness at the helm of the Pentagon.
Democratic lawmakers renewed calls for his resignation after it emerged that survivors clinging to the wreckage of a September boat strike were deliberately killed in a “double-double strike” attack, and a Defense Department investigation released Thursday concluded he violated Pentagon policy by sharing sensitive details via the messaging app Signal hours before airstrikes in Yemen.
Former Fox News employee rejects criticism of Caribbean strikes
Hegseth defended the Caribbean strikes during a speech Saturday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, saying Donald Trump has the right to take military action “as he sees fit.” The strikes killed more than 80 people and are now under scrutiny over concerns they violated international law.
“If you work for a certain terrorist organization and bring drugs into this country by boat, we will find you and sink you. Let there be no doubt about it,” Hegseth said during his keynote address. “President Trump can and will take the decisive military action he deems necessary to protect our country's interests. Let no country on earth doubt that for a moment.”
Trump escalates anti-immigrant rhetoric
Donald Trump and senior members of his administration have dramatically increased their hostility toward immigrants in the US after an Afghan man was named as a suspect last week. shooting two members of the National Guard in Washington.
In recent days, the US President has made harsh statements: claiming that there were “many problems” with the Afghans, and went to tirade against Somali immigrants, calling them “garbage” whose country of origin “stinks”. Critics have described the recent derogatory remarks as “disturbing”, “horrible”, “inhumane” and “vile”.
Capture of the Pentagon press corps by Trump's mouthpieces
Experts are alarmed that Pentagon press passes that once belonged to serious journalists are now in the hands of right-wing pundits and Trump allies after nearly all certified reporters from traditional media companies turned in their Pentagon press passes in October.
“They can't seek information on their own. That doesn't sound like journalism to me. That's what it really is: a group of alt-right media outlets that are vying to be mouthpieces and apologists for this administration,” said Carol-Ann Morris, a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
National Guard member wounded in attack 'slow to recover'
West Virginia's governor said a state National Guard soldier wounded in the Nov. 26 shooting killed his colleague Washington, DC “heals slowly.”
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a post on his website that Andrew Wolf, 24, was recovering, albeit slowly, from being shot in the head. He was shot dead along with 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom while they were patrolling the US capital as part of Trump administrationWe insist on placing military personnel on the streets of the city.
'I'm sure they'll give me great reviews': Trump receives Kennedy Center honorees
Country music singer George Strait, actor-singer Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester “Sly” Stallone and members of the rock band Kiss accepted medals Saturday night from Donald Trump, who hosted the Kennedy Center's 2025 honorees in the Oval Office for the medal ceremony.
Since taking office, the president has removed the center's board of trustees and replaced it with supporters. In August, the president said he would host a TV show on Sunday and boasted, “I believe – and I'm going to make a prediction – this will be the highest-rated show they've ever done.”
Senator says ICE 'attack dog' inflicts 'horrifying' injuries on non-resisting man
US Senator condemned Trump administration after she stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “attack dog” mauled one of her constituents. Democratic Senator Patty Murray Washington state said Wilmer Toledo-Martinez suffered “horrific” injuries when ICE agents detained him in November, and he did not resist arrest or try to flee when the dog attacked.
What else happened today:
Are we catching up? This is what happened December 5, 2025.
