Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing a reported revolt from Pentagon and White House insiders who want President Donald Trump to fire him.
The push has fueled a steady stream of damaging leaks about Hegseth, according to Trump biographer Michael Wolff, who detailed the alleged turmoil in his HOWL newsletter Thursday.
“Daily leaks about his blunders, stupidity, malfeasance, and weird conduct — his wife has moved into the Pentagon as his effective second-in-command — have become part of a growing rear-guard rebellion to get him out,” Wolff wrote, according to The Daily Beast.
Wolff claimed the frustration extends into Trump’s inner circle, where advisers reportedly believe Hegseth should have been removed already.
“In the White House, the president’s closest circle of advisors believe Hegseth needs to be fired — yesterday is their timetable,” he wrote. “Everyone is alarmed — truly, freaked out. He has no supporters left anywhere.”
The exception, Wolff added, is Trump himself.
Wolff also revived the “Colonel Vodka” nickname reportedly used by Hegseth’s former Fox News boss Roger Ailes. According to Wolff, Ailes used the name because Hegseth frequently discussed his National Guard service and was known for drinking, the Daily Beast said.
“Hegseth’s current nickname in the Pentagon is ‘No Tab Pete,’ because while in uniform he had no patches like ‘Ranger’ and ‘Sapper’ that signify special combat skills,” the outlet previously reported.
Wolff argued that Hegseth’s lack of experience may have helped him secure the job because Trump wanted a Pentagon leader who would not challenge him.
“Hence, Trump, in his second attempt at being president, hires Colonel Vodka to run his Defense Department,” Wolff wrote Thursday.
Hegseth is not the only senior Pentagon official facing scrutiny. His deputy, Steve Feinberg, has faced questions about his ties to a former CIA officer accused of siphoning millions of dollars in government funds.
The Pentagon did not respond to The Daily Beast’s request for comment.
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