Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) on Sunday avoided a direct answer when asked whether he still supports Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as Republican unease grows over the Iran conflict and a wave of senior Pentagon departures.
In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker pressed Kennedy on his confidence in Hegseth. “Well, it's not my place to have confidence in him,” Kennedy replied.
Welker pushed back, noting that as a senator, Kennedy has a duty to assess the defense secretary's leadership. The Louisiana Republican then acknowledged that Hegseth has clearly consolidated power by removing “some pretty good people” from key posts.
“Whether they deserve it or not, I don't know,” Kennedy said. “I voted for him. I'd probably vote for him again until evidence is shown to me that he shouldn't have fired these guys. But I'm not worried about the personalities.”
Kennedy said his concerns are more substantive. First, he argued, the U.S. needs “more butts, not just for Iran, but for the world.” Second, he said Washington should partner with Ukraine to develop new warfare tactics, particularly around drone technology. Third, he called for increasing military funding.
The senator acknowledged that boosting the Pentagon budget would require legislation, which he predicted Democrats would oppose. His comments come as the Defense Department faces scrutiny over reported attempts to divert NIH funds without congressional approval.
Kennedy's hedging reflects a broader GOP discomfort with Hegseth's leadership. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has publicly criticized Hegseth's “inept management,” urging President Trump to replace him. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) expressed disappointment over the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, while House Armed Services Committee Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said he is “tired of all the churn” and wants stability at the Pentagon.
Hegseth is reportedly considering several candidates to replace Driscoll, including Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, assistant Army secretary Marc Andersen, assistant Defense secretary Derrick Anderson, and Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The turmoil comes as the Trump administration prepares to request more than $70 billion in emergency national security funding to cover the escalating costs of the Iran war. Republican backlash is mounting as the Pentagon faces both internal discord and external pressure.
Kennedy concluded, “And that's the way I see it. You may disagree, but that's what makes the world go around.”
