In a cringe-filled Cabinet meeting on March 26, President Trump told Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth someone had "given you a very hard time," then praised him awkwardly — a moment that set social media alight. Read on to discover the full story!
Trump said an anonymous person told him hiring Hegseth was a mistake, then added "Pete Hegseth is doing a great job" and patted him on the arm. Cameras captured Hegseth forcing a smile as the president recounted the criticism.
Users reacted that Trump appeared to be throwing Hegseth "under the bus," predicting he could become a scapegoat. The president has also publicly discussed the war in Iran, a choice that has drawn criticism from both parties.