Trump jokes Hegseth ‘loves war,’ praises Tulsi Gabbard at Cabinet meeting
WASHINGTON, US: Donald Trump joked that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “loves war” and applauded outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard while introducing members of his Cabinet during a White House meeting on Wednesday, May 27.
Referring to Hegseth as the “secretary of war,” Trump described the Pentagon chief as someone straight out of “central casting” before adding that he was “a good man.”
The remarks came as Hegseth faces increasing scrutiny over his handling of the escalating conflict with Iran, with critics accusing him of taking an overly aggressive posture on military strategy and public messaging.
Iran dominates Cabinet talks
The Cabinet meeting marked the 12th of Trump’s second term and took place during a critical phase in negotiations involving Iran.
The administration is facing mounting questions over whether diplomatic efforts will succeed or whether military operations could intensify further.
Trump has repeatedly defended his administration’s hardline approach toward Tehran, arguing that continued pressure is necessary to secure a favorable agreement and protect US interests in the region.
Trump applauds Tulsi Gabbard’s leadership
During the meeting, Cabinet members applauded outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard after Trump praised her work leading the intelligence community.
The president described Gabbard as a “terrific person” who worked tirelessly to rebuild trust within US intelligence agencies and improve coordination across departments.
Trump said intelligence officials respected Gabbard’s leadership and credited her with helping uncover investigative leads that others had considered inactive or irrelevant.
“She gave us leads that people thought were dead, and they weren’t dead,” Trump said during the meeting.
Focus on Gabbard’s declassification efforts
Trump also highlighted Gabbard’s role in overseeing the release of several high-profile government records, including documents connected to the assassinations of former President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy.
The president said the administration was continuing broader transparency efforts involving information related to space and unidentified phenomena.
“We’re now releasing a lot of things having to do with space,” Trump said, adding that public interest in extraterrestrial and unexplained subjects had surged.
According to Trump, disclosures tied to “extraterrestrial” and “terrestrial” matters had become one of the administration’s most widely discussed initiatives.
The Cabinet meeting reflected the wide range of political and security issues dominating Trump’s administration, from the Iran conflict to intelligence reforms and public demands for government transparency.
With tensions abroad continuing and scrutiny mounting at home, Trump appeared eager to project unity within his Cabinet while highlighting achievements he believes resonate with the public.
