Trump in ABC News interview expresses confidence in Pete Hegseth

President Trump seemed confident in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s ability, despite rising concerns about his performance.

“I had a talk with him, and whatever I said I probably wouldn’t be inclined to tell you,” Mr. Trump said in an ABC News interview that aired Tuesday night. 

“But we had a good talk. He’s a talented guy. He’s young. He’s smart, highly educated. And I think he’s gonna be a very good … hopefully a great defense secretary,” he added,

When asked by ABC News’s Terry Moran if he was “100%” confident in Mr. Hegseth, Mr. Trump claimed he’s not that confident about anything.

“I don’t have 100% confidence in anything, OK? Anything,” Mr. Trump said. “Do I have a hundred percent? It’s a stupid question.”

He said “only a liar would say, ‘I have 100% confidence.”

Questions about Mr. Hegseth’s ability to run the Pentagon started to increase after an Atlantic magazine journalist was inadvertently added to a group chat on the messaging app Signal by national security adviser Mike Waltz last month.

The chat was created to discuss the airstrikes on the rebel Houthis in Yemen. Several senior administration officials were on the chat, including Vice President J.D. Vance.

Mr. Hegseth has defended himself, saying no war plans or classified information was discussed in the chat.