Pete Hegseth | DD News

November 5, 2026 12:27 PM

Trump says Hegseth doing ‘a very good job’ as questions swirl about his future

US President Donald Trump backed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, a day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections that reflected voter anger over the Iran war. Asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, whom he has described as a champion of the war, Trump ‌told reporters: "No, I think he's doing a very good job." The response contrasted with then-President George Bush, who fired Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld the morning after t...

October 28, 2026 1:50 PM

US costs of Iran war rise to over $47 billion, according to Pentagon estimate

The US military has spent over $47 billion so far to prosecute the war in Iran, more than 25% higher than the Defense Department's estimate in July, according to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters. The disclosure about the rising cost of the Iran war comes as Republicans wrestle with the political fallout of the unpopular conflict ahead of the November 3 election that will determine control of Congress for the next two years. The war's impact on global energy costs has weighed on support for Re...

October 28, 2026 10:31 AM

Rajnath Singh, Pete Hegseth review India-US defence framework at Cebu meeting

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Cebu, Philippines, to review progress under the 10-year India-US Defence Framework and explore ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), being held on October 28–29. “Had an excellent meeting with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the side-lines of the 13th ADMM-Plus. We reviewed the progress of our 10...

July 22, 2026 8:45 AM

US war in Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, Pentagon says

The United States' war in Iran has cost $37.5 billion so far, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday, an increase of nearly $8 billion since the last public estimate. Hegseth told lawmakers at a hearing in Washington that the figure included certain aspects of the war as well as anticipated costs through September 30. It ⁠was unclear how the Pentagon arrived at the $37.5 billion figure. A source told Reuters in March that ⁠President Donald Trump's administration estimated t...

April 29, 2026 10:23 PM

Pentagon’s Hegseth defends Iran war, says not a quagmire

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought to defend the Iran war in fiery remarks to Congress on Wednesday, saying it was not a quagmire and attacking Democratic lawmakers as "feckless" for criticizing the unpopular conflict. Hegseth was testifying before Congress for the first time since the U.S. and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28 that has led to a surge in gasoline prices. Trump's popularity has taken a pounding since the conflict began and just 34% of Americans approv...

November 20, 2025 4:58 PM

U.S. approves $93 million sale of Javelin missiles, Excalibur rounds to India

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems and Excalibur guided artillery munitions worth $93 million to India, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Wednesday. According to DSCA, India requested 100 FGM-148 Javelin missiles, one fly-to-buy missile, 25 command launch units, and 216 Excalibur tactical projectiles. The agency said the proposed sale would strengthen the U.S.-India strategic relationship and enhance the security of a �...

November 2, 2025 6:37 PM

Pentagon chief urges closer ties with Vietnam amid prolonged arms supply talks

The United States wants deeper military ties with Vietnam, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday at the start of a visit to Hanoi, amid prolonged talks for the potential supply of military equipment to Washington's former foe. The Southeast Asian nation, which relies heavily on Russian weapons, has been looking to diversify its arsenal for years. Talks with the United States, which lifted an arms embargo in 2016, gained momentum during the Biden administration but have not yet yiel...

November 2, 2025 12:10 PM

Hegseth says US ready to share tools to help allies counter ‘aggressive’ China

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Saturday took aim at Beijing over an increase in "destabilising actions" in the South China Sea and committed to support Southeast Asian countries with technology to help them respond jointly to Chinese threats. On a second day in Kuala Lumpur packed with meetings that included multilateral talks with allies Australia, Japan and the Philippines, Hegseth proposed to ASEAN defence ministers the building of shared maritime domain awareness and said China had shown a ...

October 31, 2025 12:52 PM

India, US sign landmark 10-year defence framework in Malaysia

India and the United States on Friday signed a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement, marking a new era in their growing partnership. The agreement, exchanged between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, provides a long-term policy direction for the US–India Major Defence Partnership. The development underscores the expanding strategic alignment between New Delhi and Washington. Announcing the agreement, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described ...

October 23, 2025 12:35 PM

US military strikes suspected drug vessels in the eastern Pacific ocean

The U.S. military killed five alleged drug smugglers in strikes against two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday, in an expansion of the Trump administration's use of the armed forces in its counter-narcotics campaign. On Wednesday afternoon, Hegseth said the military attacked a vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean and killed two men on Tuesday. It was the first known U.S. military operation in the Pacific since President Donald Trump kicked...