Hegseth more focused on managing his image than running the Pentagon, says former top adviser
A former top adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described a head office gripped by paranoia and more focused on photo ops than leadership, the latest in a series of brutal accusations about the inner workings of the Pentagon.
Colin Carroll, who was fired this month from his post as chief of staff to the deputy Defense secretary, told the Megyn Kelly podcast that Hegseth was obsessed with the spread of leaks and spent half his time investigating them at the detriment of defense priorities.
“He was very focused on the leaks, and I think it kind of consumed the team a little bit,” said Carroll, who was terminated amid a leak probe. “If you look at a pie chart of the secretary’s day, at this point, 50 percent of it is probably a leak investigation.”
His ouster came after a vicious brawl among Hegseth’s top advisers, including Joe Kasper, his former chief of staff. Hegseth’s senior adviser, Dan Caldwell, and deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick were also fired during the leak investigation. Kasper left the department last week.
Carroll portrayed a secretary intent on maintaining a public image of competence and control. Hegseth’s staff often films his early morning workouts with troops, which Carroll said was partly an attempt to push back against the idea of Hegseth as undisciplined and a heavy drinker — allegations that trailed him during his confirmation hearing and which he denied.
“In order to combat that image, it’s ‘hey, I’m gonna go work out with the troops,’” Carroll said. ”While that is important — and it’s a thing to do to get out there and helps recruiting and helps morale — if you’re taking a half day trip to the Naval Academy at the same time the budget is due, and we really need some support here … come on, you gotta weigh priorities.” [Continue reading…]
Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer write:
When we mentioned the turmoil at the Pentagon, including recent reporting that Pete Hegseth had installed a makeup room in the building, the president smiled. “I think he’s gonna get it together,” Trump said of Hegseth. “I had a talk with him, a positive talk, but I had a talk with him.”