Former top Defense Department aide warns of ‘meltdown’ under Hegseth’s leadership
A recent op-ed penned by John Ullyot, a former top Pentagon aide, has caused quite a stir in Washington, as he openly called for President Donald Trump to remove Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from his Cabinet. Ullyot described the current state of affairs within the military as “total chaos” and “dysfunction”, stating that it has become a major distraction for the president.
Ullyot, who recently left his position at the Pentagon’s public affairs office, expressed his concerns about the lack of leadership within the top brass of the military. He pointed to the recent firing of three of Hegseth’s aides, as well as the departure of chief of staff Joe Kasper, as signs of disarray within the Pentagon.
According to Ullyot, the shake-ups within the Pentagon came at a time when reports surfaced about a second Signal chat involving Hegseth discussing plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen. This revelation added fuel to the fire of speculation surrounding Hegseth’s leadership and decision-making.
Despite Ullyot’s call for Hegseth’s removal, the White House has stood firmly behind the Defense Secretary. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Trump supports Hegseth and believes he is doing a “phenomenal job” leading the Pentagon. Hegseth himself brushed off the allegations, attributing them to “disgruntled employees” and “anonymous smears”.
In response to Ullyot’s op-ed, Trump allies took to social media to criticize him, with Donald Trump Jr. accusing him of working against the president’s agenda. Jason Miller echoed this sentiment, stating that anyone echoing Democratic talking points does not support President Trump.
The ongoing drama within the Pentagon has captured the attention of the nation and raised questions about the stability and effectiveness of the leadership within the military. As the debate over Hegseth’s future continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what actions President Trump may take in response to the growing concerns.
