The Department of Defense is pushing back against what officials are calling a coordinated media campaign to undermine Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has been under fire just three months into his tenure.
Critics, including members of the legacy press and anonymous sources within the Department of Defense, have circulated reports aimed at portraying Hegseth as unfit to lead the Pentagon. The attacks appear to be part of a broader effort to apply political pressure and force his resignation.
President Donald Trump dismissed the criticism during a recent press exchange, making it clear that he continues to back Hegseth.
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“He’s doing a great job… Ask the Houthis how he’s doing. Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction there is,” Trump said, in response to questions about Hegseth’s future.
The President also called any reports of a search for a replacement “fake news.”
🚨 THIS RESPONSE IS PERFECT.
REPORTER: Why do you still have confidence in SecDef @PeteHegseth [after NYT hit-piece?]
TRUMP: “Ask the Houthis how he’s doing. Ask the Houthis how much ‘dysfunction’ there is. There’s none.”
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 21, 2025
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Despite Trump’s support, several mainstream media outlets have ramped up their coverage criticizing Hegseth’s leadership, with The New York Times, NPR, and The Atlantic publishing stories that suggest dysfunction within the Pentagon.
On Wednesday, CBS News joined in with a report alleging that the Pentagon’s green room had been converted into a personal makeup studio for Hegseth’s media appearances.
News: @SecDef Hegseth recently ordered modifications to the green room next to the Pentagon press briefing room to add a makeup studio that can be used to prep for TV appearances, sources told @CBSNews.
The price tag for the project was several thousand dollars.
The space…
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 23, 2025
According to the report, unnamed sources claimed the project cost several thousand dollars and raised questions about spending priorities at a time when departments are being evaluated for waste and inefficiencies.
The CBS story highlighted Hegseth’s past as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend and implied a contradiction between his cost-cutting promises and the alleged green room upgrade.
“Hegseth, before becoming defense secretary, was a morning show co-host on Fox News’ Fox & Friends Weekend.
Since his nomination, he has vowed to emphasize improvements in the armed forces’ warfighting abilities and military readiness,” the report stated.
However, the Department of Defense’s Rapid Response team quickly disputed the claims, calling the CBS story “TRASH!”
Does the fake news NOT have anything better to do?
1. No lighted mirror.
2. It didn’t cost thousands.
3. The items that were added to the GREEN ROOM (not a makeup studio) came from existing inventory.This story is TRASH! https://t.co/hOrF5VNqcg pic.twitter.com/FQzXX4QgpW
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) April 23, 2025
The team also noted that CBS had begun walking back parts of the report following internal pushback.
In response to the accusations, the DOD Rapid Response account on X pointed to a costly media room installation built during the Biden-Harris administration, which received little media scrutiny at the time.
So the desperate and worthless media wants to talk about a “green room” in the Pentagon…..🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/JgCI9cKPXQ
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) April 23, 2025
The contrast was highlighted as part of a broader pattern in media coverage where similar actions by Democrats were met with significantly less attention.
The report from CBS has not been formally retracted but has been subject to updates following the Pentagon’s clarification.
As the narrative continues to unfold, Hegseth remains in his role with the backing of President Trump and key defense officials.
No formal inquiries or investigations have been announced in connection with the alleged green room expenses.
The Pentagon has not released a detailed statement beyond the Rapid Response communications, but officials say the matter is not expected to lead to any internal disciplinary action.
The Department continues to focus on national defense priorities and says the recent string of media stories will not distract from its mission.
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