Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper expressed doubts on Sunday about the quality of counsel reaching President Trump, telling NBC News that he does not believe the president consistently benefits from sound strategic guidance.
In an interview on Meet the Press, host Garrett Haake pressed Esper on whether he trusts that Trump's advisers prioritize their constitutional obligations. Esper responded bluntly: “I don’t see that the president is always getting good advice, and so I think that’s the question to ask. I think Republicans on Capitol Hill have asked that same question: ‘Is the president getting the best advice with regard to these strategic matters?’”
The remarks come as a growing number of Republican lawmakers voice unease over Trump’s recent moves, particularly regarding Iran. Several Senate Republicans have described the administration’s memorandum of understanding with Tehran as “somber” and a source of “dismay.” The deal aims to end hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but critics argue it lacks sufficient safeguards. Susan Rice has sharply criticized the MOU as “flimsy” and a “very bad outcome” for the U.S.
Esper, who served as Pentagon chief during Trump’s first term, acknowledged positive elements of the agreement—such as the extended ceasefire and reopened waterway—but flagged “serious questions” about other provisions. “I like the fact that we’ve extended the ceasefire. I like the fact that the Strait is being opened up, that will provide economic relief to a lot of people, and I like the fact that we’re getting into nuclear talks,” he said. “But that said, when I look at the MOU there are many of the points that I have serious questions about and concerns about.”
Esper’s relationship with Trump soured after the president fired him via tweet in November 2020, following clashes over the use of active-duty troops to suppress protests. Esper publicly opposed deploying military forces in civilian law enforcement settings. In February 2024, Trump revoked Esper’s security detail, joining a list of former administration officials turned critics—including John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and Mark Milley—who lost their protection.
The former defense secretary has not shied away from criticizing his old boss. In January 2024, he told then-CNN anchor Jim Acosta that he would not vote for Trump, labeling him a “threat to democracy.” Esper elaborated: “And yes, I do regard him as a threat to democracy, democracy as we know it, our institutions, our political culture, all those things that make America great.” Trump’s Iran deal quip has put Vice President J.D. Vance on the hook for an unpopular war, further complicating the administration’s foreign policy messaging.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As nuclear talks proceed in Switzerland, Trump has warned Iran over its Lebanon proxies, signaling continued tensions despite the diplomatic opening.
