A frantic appearance by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s before the media Thursday drew an accusation that he may require drug testing or an abuse intervention.
The embattled President Donald Trump appointee spoke to reporters and attempted to address concerns about his deployment of an aircraft carrier in the Middle East that has lasted so long that one sailor attempted to leap overboard.
Speaking to reporters in Panama, an intense Hegseth, 46, discussed the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier on extended deployment near Iran, the Daily Beast reported.
“We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain, has everything we can provide them at every single moment,” Hegseth said, adding that he understood the strain of long deployments from his own military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His appearance and rapid-fire commentary caught the attention of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who posted on X describing Hegseth as appearing “delusional, manic, agitated” and noting his “arm-thrashing display.” Newsom questioned whether Hegseth had recently undergone drug testing, asking, “Has Pete Hegseth done a drug test lately? Why are the results not public?”
This is not the first time Hegseth has raised concerns by acting in a “manic” manner, according to Pentagon insiders.
Hegseth has a documented history of substance abuse concerns. His ex-wife told the FBI that he “drinks more often than he doesn’t,” and former Fox News colleagues said he reeked of alcohol before going on air. Hegseth pledged to abstain from alcohol ahead of his Senate confirmation, which was narrowly approved with Vice President JD Vance providing a tie-breaking vote.
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