Newsmax host Greg Kelly unloaded on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday, excoriating him for the abrupt dismissal of Navy Secretary John Phelan—the latest in a string of high-level departures from the Pentagon as the Trump administration ramps up military operations against Iran.
In a scathing post on X, Kelly labeled Hegseth a “DESPICABLE guy” and an “Insecure FAKE,” accusing him of rushing to oust Phelan because he “can’t remove his Real Nemesis, the Army Secretary,” a reference to Dan Driscoll. Kelly argued Hegseth could have done the “DECENT thing” and given Phelan two weeks or a month’s notice, but instead, he “blows up Someone Else’s life bc he can’t Handle his own.” He added, “Not CUTE anymore.”
Phelan’s firing, announced Wednesday by Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, came after just 13 months on the job. An administration official later told The Hill that Phelan was “asked to step down.” The move surprised many, though Fox News reported Thursday that tensions between Phelan and Hegseth had been building for months. A former U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Hill the firing stemmed from disagreements over shipbuilding priorities.
President Trump has been pushing for a new class of battleships as part of the Navy’s so-called “Golden Fleet,” aiming to have them built by 2028. Experts say that timeline is unrealistic given the costs and complexity involved. The Navy is requesting $377 billion in next year’s budget, including more than $65.8 billion for shipbuilding to construct 18 warships. The controversy over Phelan’s removal is part of a broader shakeup at the Pentagon, where Hegseth has dismissed more than two dozen senior military officers since the start of 2025.
Hegseth has also drawn criticism for overhauling the Pentagon’s media policy last fall, restricting journalists’ access and requiring outlets to pledge not to use unauthorized material—even if unclassified. Every major television network, wire service, publication, and radio outlet refused to sign the new pledge and turned in their press badges. As a result, Hegseth now fields questions from non-traditional outlets during briefings on Middle East operations, including TMZ.
During Friday’s briefing, Hegseth took two questions from TMZ correspondent Jacob Wasserman, who asked, “I’ve heard you talk a lot about bombing people and places… what’s going through your mind and your body? Do you have, like, an adrenaline rush? Are you scared? Do you feel like you’re on a power trip?” The exchange drew a sharp rebuke from Newsmax national security reporter Carla Babb, who urged Hegseth to “please consider” calling on reporters who regularly cover the Defense Department. Newsmax itself did not sign the new media policy.
Phelan is the first service secretary removed in Trump’s second term, adding to the turmoil at the Pentagon as the administration navigates the conflict with Iran and pushes for a massive defense budget increase. The fallout continues to reverberate, with critics accusing Hegseth of prioritizing loyalty over competence.
