The posture from President Trump’s administration was meant to hold the line, at least for now, against Democratic demands for Hegseth’s firing when the Pentagon is engulfed in turmoil.

President Donald Trump on Monday defended his embattled defense secretary, saying he's pleased with his leadership thus far.

Scandal-ridden Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is the “victim” of a cruel “plot” and “is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” according to the White House. “The president stands strongly behind Pete Hegseth,