The pilot of the Black Hawk that crashed into a passenger jet in January, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft, failed to turn the military helicopter when advised to do so by her co-pilot, according to a new report.
On Sunday, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/27/business/dc-plane-crash-reagan-airport.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> new details on various &#8220;failures&#8221; underlying the mid-air <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-suggests-airport-tower-understaffed-at-time-of-collision-had-been-for-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">collision</a>, which happened over the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C., area.
In the final moments, Capt. Rebecca Lobach, who was piloting the Army Black Hawk Helicopter involved in the crash, was told by her co-pilot and instructor, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, that he believed air traffic control wanted them to turn left to avoid the American Airlines passenger jet as it was about to land at Reagan National Airport.
&#8220;Turning left would have opened up more space between the helicopter and Flight 5342, which was heading for Runway 33 at an altitude of roughly 300 feet,&#8221; the New York Times report said. &#8220;She did not turn left.&#8221;
Investigators &#8220;might never know why&#8221; Lobach continued flying the helicopter straight, the report asserted.
&#8220;There is no indication that she was suffering from health issues at the time or that a medical event affected her during those final moments aboard the Black Hawk, according to friends and people familiar with the crash investigation, which included autopsies and performance log reviews,&#8221; it said.
As noted in the report, there were other issues underlying the deadly incident, including those related to the helicopter&#8217;s altitude and radio communications.
The air traffic controller had contacted the Black Hawk, asking if its crew had seen the passenger jet, according to the report. Eaves said they saw &#8220;traffic&#8221; and requested permission for &#8220;visual separation&#8221; that would allow the helicopter to maneuver around it.
But cockpit voice recordings &#8220;indicate&#8221; the controller&#8217;s command for the Black Hawk to &#8220;pass behind&#8221; the passenger jet may not have been heard by the military helicopter crew because of a &#8220;bleep-out&#8221; when they activated their microphone.
Two seconds after the controller&#8217;s cut-out instruction, Eaves again communicated that the helicopter had the jet in its sights and sought the go-ahead for visual separation. In their last communication, the controller replied, &#8220;Vis sep approved.&#8221; That&#8217;s when, with 15 seconds to go, Eaves told Lobach that he believed air traffic control had given them the go-ahead to turn.

Emergency Crews Respond To Aircraft Crash Near Reagan National Airport

New Revelation From Deadly Mid-Air Collision: Black Hawk Pilot Failed To Turn When Advised

Air Travel

Military

U.S.

Washington D.C.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promised an overhaul of military physical fitness standards — and accountability to ensure that those standards are met — in an X post on Friday, declaring that on his watch, service members would be &#8220;FIT, not FAT!&#8221;
Hegseth was responding to a Military Times <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2025/04/24/more-than-two-thirds-of-reserve-troops-are-overweight-report/#:~:text=The%20Defense%20Department's%20latest%20data,figure%20is%20closer%20to%2068%25." target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published Thursday revealing that the overwhelming majority — more than two-thirds — of reserve troops did not meet the prescribed weight standards.
&#8220;Completely unacceptable. This is what happens when standards are IGNORED — and this is what we are changing. REAL fitness &amp; weight standards are here. We will be FIT, not FAT,&#8221; Hegseth declared in an X post, noting that part of the problem was the fact that even the existing standards were not being enforced.
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Completely unacceptable.
This is what happens when standards are IGNORED — and this is what we are changing. REAL fitness &amp; weight standards are here.
We will be FIT, not FAT. <a href="https://t.co/KWMlFbS1c8">pic.twitter.com/KWMlFbS1c8</a>
&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1915725082820764054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Citing a new study released earlier this week by the American Security Project (ASP), The Military Times reported that an estimated 68% of National Guard and reserve troops would be classified as either overweight or obese. The problem was slightly more pronounced among National Guard members, where some 21% of all personnel are estimated to be obese.
The ASP noted in the study that a large percentage of Active Duty service members are also considered to be overweight or obese. But because National Guard and reserve service members serve and train on a part time basis, enforcing physical fitness standards can be a much more complicated issue than when dealing with those serving in an active duty capacity — but the risks, in addition to the impacts on military readiness, remain high.
&#8220;These service members experience heightened risk for a wide variety of serious health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and osteoarthritis, which may lead to life-threatening health events such as stroke and heart failure,&#8221; the ASP report stated.
Hegseth has stated repeatedly that his main goal is to restore the United States military&#8217;s reputation as the most lethal fighting force on the planet, and as such, he plans to overhaul and enforce fitness standards that will bring about that end.

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‘FIT, Not FAT!’: Pete Hegseth Promises Standard Overhaul After ‘Unacceptable’ Troop Fitness Report

'FIT, Not FAT!': Pete Hegseth Promises Standard Overhaul After 'Unacceptable' Troop Fitness Report

Department of Defense

Pete Hegseth

Politics

Trump Administration

Vice President JD Vance poured a few beers for American service members at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, speaking to troops briefly while his plane refueled during his return trip back to the United States.
The vice president has seen a busy week beginning with Easter Sunday at the Vatican, where he briefly met with the late Pope Francis just hours before the pontiff died of a stroke, followed by a trip to India with Second Lady Usha Vance and their three children.
Vance, according to the pool report, commented on the hectic nature of his schedule as he spoke to the crowd, saying in part, &#8220;I have no idea what the hell day it is, what time it is, but we’re glad to be here with you guys.”
&#8220;I guess as a small token of appreciation, I’m going to serve you guys some beers,&#8221; the vice president said after he&#8217;d finished speaking. He drank first, raising a traditional German painted stein and prepared to toast the gathered service members.
Initially joking that he should chug the beer, Vance quickly course-corrected, saying, &#8220;That would go viral, and not in a good way, my friends.&#8221;
Instead, he sipped from the stein and offered his toast: &#8220;To the airmen of this base, the airwomen of this base, and all of our troops serving overseas, God bless you guys. Cheers.&#8221;
Vance proceeded to pour beers from the &#8220;kegerator,&#8221; designed and built by Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony Davis, as the troops filed in, some exchanging greetings and asking the vice president to take photos with them.
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Vice President <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> pouring up some beers for the troops during a refuel stop at Ramstein Air Base🍻 <a href="https://t.co/eU4VJYBqBZ">pic.twitter.com/eU4VJYBqBZ</a>
&mdash; William Martin (@wsmartin218) <a href="https://twitter.com/wsmartin218/status/1915385110536265776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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One airman asked how his flight had been, to which Vance replied, &#8220;It was 9 hours and 20 minutes with three little kids and as good as it could be &#8230; I’m not giving everybody a full pour here.&#8221;
&#8220;What’s up man?&#8221; Vance asked one airman. &#8220;Drinking on the job here, now that your tour’s over?&#8221;
&#8220;Are you old enough to drink this beer?&#8221; he asked another.
One female airman reportedly asked Vance to do &#8220;the Trump dance.&#8221;
Davis asked Vance to sign his &#8220;kegerator,&#8221; and he happily obliged. &#8220;This thing is awesome,&#8221; he said.
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Per pooler <a href="https://twitter.com/natalie_allison?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@natalie_allison</a>: VP Vance served beer to 100+ Air Force, Army and Space Force today at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on his way back to the USA.
The airman who built this kegerator (Air Force Master Sgt. Anthony Davis) asked <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> to sign it.
Vance wrote: “To… <a href="https://t.co/qrcDHpR8nx">pic.twitter.com/qrcDHpR8nx</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1915463080999260209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote>

U.S. Vice President Vance Visits Italy And India

JD Vance Serves Beer To Service Members During Refueling Stop, Reminds Himself Not To ‘Chug’

JD Vance Serves Beer To Service Members During Refueling Stop, Reminds Himself Not To 'Chug'

Alcohol

JD Vance

Multiple media outlets ran with a story on Wednesday claiming that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had demanded the addition of a make-up studio at the Pentagon where officials could prepare for media appearances.
CBS News White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs shared the news via X, posting, &#8220;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 previously had minimal furnishings. A new director-style chair and large mirror with makeup lighting was installed. Hegseth has used the briefing room for Fox News hits.&#8221;
It was not until the very end of the post that Jacobs qualified her assertions with a quote from a spokesperson, who confirmed only that the green room had been updated, but added, &#8220;For this upgrade we were deliberately conservative and opted for several less expensive, on-hand materiel solutions.&#8221;
The @DODRapidResponse account fired back with a photo of the updated green room, adding, &#8220;Does the fake news NOT have anything better to do? 1. No lighted mirror. 2. It didn&#8217;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!&#8221;
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Does the fake news NOT have anything better to do?
1. No lighted mirror. 2. It didn&#39;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! <a href="https://t.co/hOrF5VNqcg">https://t.co/hOrF5VNqcg</a> <a href="https://t.co/FQzXX4QgpW">pic.twitter.com/FQzXX4QgpW</a>
&mdash; DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1915123461631918529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Defense Secretary Hegseth also took aim at CBS News, suggesting that he might have gotten more favorable media coverage if he&#8217;d installed tampon dispensers in the Pentagon men&#8217;s rooms.
&#8220;1) Totally fake story. No &#8216;orders&#8217; and no &#8216;makeup&#8217; — but whatever. 2) We should have installed tampon machines in every men’s bathroom at DoD instead — the leftist &#8216;news&#8217; media would have loved that,&#8221; he said.
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1) Totally fake story. No “orders” and no “makeup” — but whatever.
2) We should have installed tampon machines in every men’s bathroom at DoD instead — the leftist “news” media would have loved that. <a href="https://t.co/7LypyVObXJ">https://t.co/7LypyVObXJ</a>
&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1915180944157196773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Chief Pentagon spokesman and Army Ranger veteran Sean Parnell added, &#8220;This story is 100% Fake News.&#8221;
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This story is 100% Fake News. <a href="https://t.co/ya8hXPeZhh">https://t.co/ya8hXPeZhh</a>
&mdash; Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1915223544180465682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Still, numerous outlets went on to claim that Hegseth had demanded a &#8220;make-up studio&#8221; at the Pentagon — but while media persisted in chasing the fake story, it was business as usual at the Department of Defense.
Hegseth continued to push an end to &#8220;woke&#8221; policies and programs, saying, &#8220;No more social engineering. No more climate change worship. No more electric tanks. No more gender confusion. No more pronouns. No more excuses. No more quotas. No more WOKE bulls*** that undermines commanders and command climates. We are laser focused on our mission of warfighting.&#8221;
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. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> &quot;No more social engineering. No more climate change worship. No more electric tanks. No more gender confusion. No more pronouns. No more excuses. No more quotas.
No more WOKE bullsh*t that undermines commanders and command climates. We are laser focused on our mission… <a href="https://t.co/02v9OTHDij">pic.twitter.com/02v9OTHDij</a>
&mdash; DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1915067656266281242?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Army recruitment announced that it was six full months ahead of schedule with regard to 2025 goals.
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SIX MONTHS ahead of schedule. <a href="https://t.co/Ho6f6xnbB4">pic.twitter.com/Ho6f6xnbB4</a>
&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1915359536451383408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And U.S. military forces overseas continued the onslaught against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists.
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Continuous 24/7 operations against Iran-backed Houthis from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HouthisAreTerrorists?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HouthisAreTerrorists</a> <a href="https://t.co/lh5DpvdCOR">pic.twitter.com/lh5DpvdCOR</a>
&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1915188353059692607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Poland

Media Outlets Peddle Pentagon Makeup Studio Story In Latest Effort To Smear Pete Hegseth

Media

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he was planning to sit for an interview with The Atlantic&#8217;s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in spite of the fact that Goldberg has used his outlet to perpetuate &#8220;many fictional stories&#8221; about the president and his administration.
Trump declared his intentions in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying that he planned to take the meeting with Goldberg and two of his writers — both of whom he described as unfriendly to the administration — &#8220;out of curiosity.&#8221;
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<a href="https://t.co/9ZtlJfRCfZ">pic.twitter.com/9ZtlJfRCfZ</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1915433979454410756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Later today I will be meeting with, of all people, Jeffrey Goldberg, the Editor of The Atlantic, and the person responsible for many fictional stories about me, including the made-up HOAX on &#8216;Suckers and Losers&#8217; and, SignalGate, something he was somewhat more &#8216;successful&#8217; with,&#8221; Trump began, referencing one story that had circulated during his first term in the White House before pivoting to the recent SNAFU in which Goldberg had accidentally been added to a Signal chat group where high-level administration officials had discussed plans to retaliate against Houthi terrorists in some detail.
Despite the fact that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz took responsibility for the incident — and that Goldberg&#8217;s addition to the group has been linked to an algorithm-based &#8220;contact suggestion&#8221; feature on his iPhone — Democrats and media still attempted to weaponize the story in their efforts to bring down Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
&#8220;Jeffrey is bringing with him Michael Scherer and Ashley Parker, not exactly pro-Trump writers, either, to put it mildly!&#8221; Trump&#8217;s post continued. &#8220;The story they are writing, they have told my representatives, will be entitled, &#8216;The Most Consequential President of this Century.&#8217; I am doing this interview out of curiosity, and as a competition with myself, just to see if it’s possible for The Atlantic to be &#8216;truthful.&#8217; Are they capable of writing a fair story on &#8216;TRUMP&#8217;? The way I look at it, what can be so bad – I WON!&#8221;

President Donald Trump

Trump Agrees To Interview With Repeat Hoax-Peddler Jeffrey Goldberg ‘Out Of Curiosity’

Trump Agrees To Interview With Repeat Hoax-Peddler Jeffrey Goldberg 'Out Of Curiosity'

Donald Trump

Signal

The Atlantic

President Donald Trump&#8217;s counter-terrorism operation has been humming in the first three months of his second administration, taking out 74 terrorist leaders who were planning attacks on United States soil, according to National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Among those neutralized in Trump&#8217;s airstrikes were terrorists from al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and ISIS. None of the 74 terrorists taken out by Trump-approved strikes were being pursued by the Biden administration, Waltz told <a href="https://justthenews.com/government/security/wedtrump-has-killed-74-leaders-terror-groups-hoping-strike-us-homeland-mike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Just The News</a>. Waltz said the Biden administration&#8217;s failure to find these terrorist leaders and its lack of border security created an &#8220;incredibly dangerous&#8221; situation that the Trump administration is seeking to fix.
“I can tell you, from ISIS to al-Qaeda, to groups like Al-Shabab, all have plots and plans to hit the homeland once again, And if you look under the Biden administration, with a wide-open border, that was incredibly dangerous,” he said. “President Trump has eliminated 74 named terrorist leaders that the Biden administration wasn&#8217;t going after. You add to that 45 Americans who are being held hostage by various regimes and groups around the world that he&#8217;s brought home and that is just an incredible achievement in just a couple of months.”
In March, a top ISIS leader was killed in a precision airstrike in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. A senior military leader of a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda was taken out in a separate strike in Syria in February, and on February 1, a U.S. Africa Command operation took out 13 high-ranking Islamic State operatives, along with an attack planner.
&#8220;Americans should sleep better at night,&#8221; Waltz added. &#8220;We&#8217;re only three months in, and look at the results President Trump is getting. The mainstream media doesn&#8217;t want to talk about those.&#8221;
Trump has also ramped up strikes against Houthi terrorists in the Middle East, vowing to protect U.S. military and commercial ships. On Tuesday, Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-orders-troops-to-middle-east-to-counter-houthi-attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that he was ordering more U.S. forces &#8220;equipped for combat into the Middle East to enhance the defensive capabilities available to United States forces and facilitate necessary military actions.&#8221;
The continued pressure on the Houthis — and other radical Islamic terrorists in the Middle East — comes as the Trump administration is also seeking to negotiate a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-saturdays-nuclear-talks-between-the-u-s-and-iran" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nuclear deal</a> with Iran, which funds the Houthis. The president is hoping to bring more stability to the Middle East after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage.

U.S. airstrikes

Trump Strikes Have Killed 74 Terrorist Leaders Planning Attacks On U.S. Soil: Mike Waltz

Al Qaeda

Houthis

Middle East

Mike Waltz

Radical Islamic Terror

Terrorism

While Democrats attempt to run up the score with another story about another Signal chat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took to the airwaves on Tuesday morning to make it clear that he has no intention of backing down.
Hegseth spoke with &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends&#8221; anchor Brian Kilmeade about the recent story, in which The New York Times alleges that Hegseth may have disclosed sensitive information in a second <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/defense-department-and-white-house-fire-back-after-latest-hegseth-hit-piece" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Signal chat group</a> — that included his wife, his brother, and his attorney — that he accessed using his personal phone rather than his government phone. National Public Radio (NPR) followed the NYT story with a headline suggesting that President Donald Trump&#8217;s White House was already searching for someone who could replace Hegseth — a claim that both Hegseth and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have denied.
WATCH:
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MUST WATCH: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth IS ON FIRE 🔥
&quot;I’m here because President Trump asked me to bring war-fighting back to the Pentagon every single day. 
If people don’t like it, come after me, no worries. I’m standing here, the WARFIGHTERS are behind us, our enemies… <a href="https://t.co/AN5WaSwExc">pic.twitter.com/AN5WaSwExc</a>
&mdash; Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) <a href="https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1914669279347146800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;They&#8217;ve come after me from day one,&#8221; Hegseth told Kilmeade on Tuesday morning&#8217;s broadcast, noting that the attacks he&#8217;d endured so far were nothing compared to what had been thrown at President Trump. &#8220;I&#8217;ve gotten a fraction of what President Trump got in that first term. What he&#8217;s endured is super human.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s not hard for me to do this job, I know exactly why I&#8217;m here,&#8221; Hegseth continued. &#8220;To bring war-fighting and the war-fighting ethos back to the Pentagon. To rip out the insidious ideologies and not compromise and not back down. To bring in new press voices into the Pentagon, which we&#8217;ve done. To reestablish standards and accountability. To not tolerate leakers.&#8221;
Hegseth went on with his list, saying that regaining control of the southern border was part of his job, as was getting rid of &#8220;trans lunacy in the military.&#8221;
&#8220;We haven&#8217;t backed down,&#8221; he added, saying that in the past, people came to Washington to &#8220;play the game&#8221; and often got caught up in the lifestyle and the cocktail parties and the status quo, but it was not his intention to have any part of that.
&#8220;I’m here because President Trump asked me to bring war-fighting back to the Pentagon every single day. If people don’t like it, they can come after me, no worries. I’m standing here, the warfighters are behind us, our enemies know they&#8217;re on notice, our allies know we are behind them, and that in this dangerous world, for the American people, is what it is all about,&#8221; he said.

President Trump Holds “Make America Wealthy Again Event” In White House Rose Garden

‘They Can Come After Me’: Defiant Pete Hegseth Says He’s Not Backing Down

'They Can Come After Me': Defiant Pete Hegseth Says He's Not Backing Down

Fox News

The Defense Department and the White House, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth himself, fired back over an anonymously-sourced New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/20/us/politics/hegseth-yemen-attack-second-signal-chat.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">piece</a> claiming that Hegseth had shared &#8220;highly sensitive military information&#8221; in a second Signal chat group that allegedly included his wife, his brother, and his attorney.
The story comes on the heels of a previous incident in which The Atlantic&#8217;s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a different Signal chat group — and an attack on Houthi terrorists was described in some detail before Goldberg went public with both his presence in the group and the contents of the conversation. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz ultimately took responsibility for Goldberg&#8217;s accidental inclusion, which may have been linked to his iPhone&#8217;s algorithm that populates &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/so-damn-dangerous-signal-chat-breach-linked-to-automated-suggestion-feature-on-iphone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">automated contact suggestions</a>.&#8221;
The second chat group, according to the NYT, was nicknamed &#8220;Defense | Team Huddle&#8221; and was accessed via Hegseth&#8217;s personal phone rather than his government phone. Citing several anonymous sources, the NYT stated that the private Signal chat had included at least two of three DOD officials who were recently relieved of duty amid an investigation into &#8220;unauthorized disclosures&#8221; to media. The article offered no evidence suggesting that Hegseth had ever discussed anything of a sensitive nature in that group.
On Sunday, Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell released a statement responding to the story:
<blockquote>Another day, another old story—back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda. This time, the New York Times — and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage — are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article. They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President&#8217;s agenda. There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump&#8217;s agenda. We’ve already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down.</blockquote>
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/20/25
STATEMENT:
Another day, another old story—back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda. This time, the New York Times — and all other Fake News that repeat their…
&mdash; Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1914135704101175583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Hegseth, who was present at Monday&#8217;s Easter Egg Roll at the White House, responded directly to the story as well:
<blockquote>What a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax.
This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me.
We&#8217;re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of warfighters — and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn&#8217;t matter.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Pete Hegseth shuts down the fake news media:
&quot;What a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax.&quot;
&quot;This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former… <a href="https://t.co/H4AmR88BJR">pic.twitter.com/H4AmR88BJR</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1914322833506697713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also defended Hegseth during a Monday morning appearance on &#8220;Fox &amp; Friends,&#8221; telling anchor Brian Kilmeade that the president was standing behind Hegseth, &#8220;who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;The President stands strongly behind <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteHegseth</a>, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8exZQSJr5a">pic.twitter.com/8exZQSJr5a</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1914299932854407660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
National Public Radio (NPR) followed up the NYT report with an anonymously-sourced story claiming that the White House was already looking for a replacement for Hegseth — a claim that Leavitt immediately disputed.
&#8220;This @NPR story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about. As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/NPR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NPR</a>⁩ story is total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source who clearly has no idea what they are talking about. 
As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a>⁩. <a href="https://t.co/5Npig8968v">https://t.co/5Npig8968v</a>
&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1914371752685076757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

Defense Department And White House Fire Back After Latest Hegseth Hit Piece

Karoline Leavitt

Pentagon

White House

At a time when the Pentagon is finally waking up to the physical collapse of our armed forces, Texas has a unique opportunity to lead.
In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sounded the alarm with <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4118161/rapid-force-wide-review-of-military-standards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a directive</a>: Military standards have dangerously eroded. “Our adversaries are not growing weaker,” he wrote. “Our tasks are not growing less challenging.”
He ordered a department-wide review of physical fitness, grooming, and readiness standards and <a href="https://x.com/SecDef/status/1907509325804798454" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently stated</a>, “For too long, we’ve allowed standards to slip within the ranks for men and women serving in combat MOSs. This is unacceptable and over.”
He also welcomed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the Pentagon, pledging to ensure our warfighters are “healthy and fit to fight.” These moves reflect a growing recognition of the military’s readiness crisis — and that rebuilding a warrior culture requires action, not speeches.
Texas is answering that call.
The Texas Military Forces Health and Readiness Act (House Bill 4993) is a no-compromise legislative initiative to restore physical readiness, health, and resilience in the Texas Military Forces. It aligns with the Department of Defense’s renewed focus on standards and provides a battle-ready model that other states — and even the federal government — can adopt.
<h3>The Current Readiness Crisis And Systemic Failures</h3>
<div id="attachment_908487" style="width: 876px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908487" class="size-large wp-image-908487" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg" alt="EL PASO, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Texas National Guard soldiers transport border fencing layered with concertina wire near the Rio Grande river on April 02, 2024 in El Paso, Texas. Last week, hundreds of migrants seeking asylum clashed with Texas national guardsmen while waiting to turn themselves in to border patrol agents for processing. Texas continues awaiting a verdict on Senate Bill 4. Attorneys representing the state of Texas are scheduled to return to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on April 3 to continue arguing for the constitutional basis of the bill. Senate Bill 4 allows state law enforcement officials to detain and arrest undocumented immigrants suspected of illegally crossing into the United States. Thus far, all prior attempts to put the Bill into effect have been blocked by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="866" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-866x576.jpg 866w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2133324574.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 866px) 100vw, 866px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
The National Guard plays an increasingly vital dual role: it must respond to domestic crises and be ready to “fight tonight” in peer-level combat operations. Hegseth has emphasized the need to “match threats to capabilities.” But for states like Texas — where the Guard is expected to conduct disaster operations, support border security, and remain deployable worldwide — this mission cannot be met under current conditions.
This isn’t just about pushups. America’s military readiness crisis is real, and it’s gutting our combat capability across the force. Military readiness isn’t a slogan — it’s the bedrock of deterrence and victory. Yet today, 68% of U.S. service members are overweight or obese, according to a 2023 report by the American Security Project. Fitness-related health costs and lost duty time exceed $1.35 billion annually, directly sabotaging operational effectiveness. That’s bad enough for active-duty forces — but for the National Guard, the situation is catastrophic.
If active-duty service members with full access to resources are struggling, the situation for part-time National Guard forces is even more dire. In Texas, part-time Guardsmen train a fraction of the time compared to Active Duty. They are spread across vast distances, often without access to adequate training facilities, wellness programs, or basic fitness infrastructure. Unlike the Active Duty, the Guard operates with persistent disparities in funding, support services, and oversight. Wellness programs go underutilized, accountability is virtually nonexistent, and time for physical training is painfully limited. The result? A force on the edge of collapse — unfit, underprepared, and unable to meet the demands of today’s missions. This isn’t just a training problem. It’s a strategic liability.
<h3>The Army’s Food Scandal: A Symptom Of The Larger Collapse</h3>
Adding insult to injury is the military’s broken nutrition system. A January 2025 Military.com <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/02/14/over-151-million-taken-soldiers-paychecks-food-costs-spent-elsewhere-army.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investigation</a> found that the Army diverted over $151 million in food allowance payments from junior enlisted soldiers, with only 30% of those funds actually going toward meals. At Fort Cavazos in Texas, only $11.7 million of $42.5 million collected went to feed troops. Other bases relied on vending machines stocked with sugary snacks, or served meals of toast and lima beans — or no meals at all.
This isn’t just a logistical failure. It’s a betrayal of the trust and conditions necessary for building a capable, professional fighting force. For the National Guard, already starved of resources and time, this neglect is lethal. This is not a military prepared to win wars — it’s a hollow shell.
<div id="attachment_908491" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-908491" class="size-large wp-image-908491" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg" alt="EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - JANUARY 12: National Guard soldiers stand guard on the banks of the Rio Grande river at Shelby Park on January 12, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Texas National Guard continues its blockade and surveillance of Shelby Park in an effort to deter illegal immigration. The Department of Justice has accused the Texas National Guard of blocking Border Patrol agents from carrying out their duties along the river. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1928669611.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Brandon Bell/Getty Images</div>
<h3>HB 4993: A Texas-Size Fix</h3>
HB <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/HB04993I.htm">4993</a> is a Texas-sized solution to this national crisis. It creates a comprehensive, accountable system to rebuild readiness:
<ul>
<li>Statewide Fitness Access: State-funded gym memberships and access to certified civilian trainers ensure Guardsmen across Texas can train consistently, regardless of location.</li>
<li>Integrated Digital Platform: Service members get real-time fitness tracking, customized plans, injury prevention, and mental health tools in a secure app.</li>
<li>Comprehensive Wellness Services: The bill funds rehabilitation, nutrition counseling, mental health support, and family-based fitness programs, because force readiness starts at home.</li>
<li>Performance-Based Culture: Structured incentives, advancement pathways, and public recognition will restore the warrior ethos and reward excellence.</li>
<li>Transparency and Accountability: Quarterly reports to the Legislature, corrective action plans, and unit-level oversight. If readiness falters, the system adapts — now, not later.</li>
<li>Minimal Cost, Maximum Return: This initiative delivers a high-impact return at a fraction of the $1.35 billion national fitness-related losses. This is a high-impact, low-cost readiness reform that delivers immediate and lasting results — saving lives, taxpayer dollars, and national security. </li>
</ul>
<h3>Reinforcing National Readiness Priorities</h3>
For too long, the physical and mental health of our service members has been allowed to rot — not because of funding shortages, but because of cowardice, complacency, and a lack of standards. HB 4993 rejects that failure. It embodies the resolve to act decisively and reforge a professional force worthy of the missions it’s expected to carry out.
This is the moment for Texas to lead. HB 4993 supports the national call to “Make America Healthy Again” and hands other states a clear, scalable playbook. The health, fitness, and discipline of our military are not internal HR concerns — they are national security imperatives.
Readiness isn’t negotiable. It’s the prerequisite for effective deterrence, mission success, and survival in a world of growing threats. Texas is doing its part. Now the Texas Legislature must rise to the occasion — and show the nation what readiness, resolve, and responsibility really look like.
* * *
Ammon Blair is a Senior Fellow for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s ‘Secure &amp; Sovereign Texas’ Initiative.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Texas National Guard Works To Secure Southern Border In El Paso

Rebuilding The Warrior Class: Texas Can Lead With Military Fitness Reform

Marines

National Guard

Obesity

Opinion

Soldiers

Texas

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Army

U.S. Military

U.S. Navy

A second Defense Department official — this time the Pentagon&#8217;s Deputy Chief of Staff — has been relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave amid a probe into &#8220;unauthorized disclosures&#8221; regarding key figures within the department.
Darin Selnick, DoD deputy chief of staff, was <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/15/caldwell-pentagon-leaks-00291735" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly suspended</a> and escorted from the Pentagon just one day after Dan Caldwell, an aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was also removed from the building under suspicion that he was involved in leaking information. Both Selnick and Caldwell have previously worked with Hegseth at a veterans group the defense secretary headed, Concerned Veterans for America.
An <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Mar/21/2003674265/-1/-1/0/EFFORTS-TO-COMBAT-UNAUTHORIZED-DISCLOSURES-OSD002809-25-RES-FINAL.PDF">investigation</a> into the matter was announced last month, citing &#8220;recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information,&#8221; which, according to reports, included revealing details regarding billionaire Elon Musk&#8217;s visit to the Pentagon and the defense secretary&#8217;s recent trip to Panama.
DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper said when the probe was announced, &#8220;The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy. This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.&#8221;
The Defense Department is not alone in its struggle to uncover those who would leak unauthorized information.
Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hegseth-adviser-placed-on-leave-amid-defense-department-leak-probe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a> announced a similar probe in March, with DHS assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin telling <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/noems-homeland-security-unapologetic-about-using-lie-detector-test-suspected-intel-leakers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox News Digital</a> that the Department of Homeland Security would also utilize polygraph testing in its effort to root out any potential leakers.
&#8220;Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS is unapologetic about its efforts to root out leakers that undermine national security. We are agnostic about your standing, tenure, political appointment or status as a career civil servant – we will track down leakers and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,&#8221; McLaughlin said at the time.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also vowed to hold leakers accountable, saying, &#8220;Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security and the trust of the American people and will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, such leaks have become commonplace with no investigation or accountability. That ends now.&#8221;

Second Hegseth Advisor Booted From Pentagon Amid Leak Probe

The U.S. Space Force announced on Thursday that it had <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/11/us-news/space-force-col-susannah-meyers-fired-after-email-about-jd-vances-greenland-visit-surfaces/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stripped</a> Col. Susannah Meyers, who ran the U.S. Space Force base in Greenland, of her command after she voiced disapproval of Vice President JD Vance’s statements when he visited the base last month.
During his speech at Pituffik Space Base, Vance <a href="https://singjupost.com/transcript-of-jd-vance-remarks-at-pituffik-space-base-in-greenland/?singlepage=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">warned</a> about “Russia and China and other nations  &#8230; taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways and Arctic naval routes and indeed in the minerals of the Arctic territories. We need to ensure that America is leading in the Arctic because we know that if America doesn’t, other nations will fill the gap where we fall behind.”
He addressed Denmark, saying, “Let’s be honest, what Denmark over the last 20 years has failed to do in some cases, because we know that unfortunately this place, this base, the surrounding area is less secure than it was 30, 40 years ago, because some of our allies haven’t kept up.”
“There is no amount of bullying, no amount of obfuscating, no amount of confusing the issue,” he continued. “Our message to Denmark is very simple. You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”
On March 31, Meyers sent an email to the troops under her command saying she had “spent the weekend thinking about Friday&#8217;s visit &#8212; the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you. &#8230; I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base,” Military.com <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/04/10/space-force-commander-greenland-sent-out-email-breaking-vance-after-his-visit.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
On Thursday, the Space Force <a href="https://www.spoc.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4152328/for-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a>, “Colonel Susannah Meyers, commander of Pituffik Space Base was removed from command by Colonel Kenneth Klock, commander of Space Base Delta 1, on April 10, 2025 for loss of confidence in her ability to lead. Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties. Colonel Shawn Lee has assumed command.”
“Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense,” Sean Parnell, the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, wrote on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump&#39;s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.
⬇️⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ITFeGw0kUf">https://t.co/ITFeGw0kUf</a> <a href="https://t.co/MO68aje1X2">pic.twitter.com/MO68aje1X2</a>
&mdash; Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1910502650170265627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Other Republicans also voiced their approval of the decision:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Good on <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteHegseth</a> and his team for their quick action here. <a href="https://t.co/4ZffW15Ok4">https://t.co/4ZffW15Ok4</a>
&mdash; Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Schmitt/status/1910503914572554541?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Trump is the Commander in Chief.
Get on board with the mission, or get out. <a href="https://t.co/XoSUwhn15t">https://t.co/XoSUwhn15t</a>
&mdash; Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTuberville/status/1910650518042468515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Colonel Meyers tried to politicize the Space Force and was held accountable.
Lloyd Austin isn’t SecDef anymore. 
Thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteHegseth</a>. <a href="https://t.co/WNG9IgtT4w">pic.twitter.com/WNG9IgtT4w</a>
&mdash; Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorBanks/status/1910502333907185760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Vice President JD Vance Visits US Military Base In Northern Greenland

Space Force Fires Greenland Base Commander Who Slammed Vance’s Remarks

Greenland

United States Space Force

On Friday, the Senate confirmed Lt. Gen. Dan &#8220;Razin&#8221; Caine as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Congratulations to Dan “Razin” Caine on his confirmation in the Senate as the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Your leadership will be a welcomed/vital part of ensuring we return the Dept. of Defense back to the American warfighter. <a href="https://t.co/TFmTrc6MUa">pic.twitter.com/TFmTrc6MUa</a>
&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1910660682137100309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Caine, a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and a former Air Force pilot with 2,800 flight hours, served two tours in Iraq. By 2003, he served as the CIA’s Associate Director for Military Affairs (ADMA), the CIA Director’s principal advisor on military matters and the primary man-in-the-middle between the CIA and the Department of Defense. He commanded the air defense of Washington, D.C., after the 9/11 attacks.
“I remember telling the wingman that I was going to fly with that day, ‘Don’t shoot anybody. I’ll make the decision,’” Caine <a href="https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/senior-cia-officer-reflects-on-defending-washington-d-c-on-9-11/">said</a> in 2003. “If we got it wrong, or if we missed somebody and we did not shoot, the consequences of that could be catastrophic, not only for the people on the ground, but for the country as a whole.”
“There are certain days in our nation&#8217;s history that really are days of infamy,” he said. “And December 7th and September 11th are certainly days of infamy. And when I talk to young officers here at the Agency or I talk to young military officers and walk through that day, I ask them to never forget that there&#8217;s a reason for all of the things that we&#8217;ve been through as a country for the last 20 years. And in those examples of courage, maybe they can find some courage to make difficult decisions or take the hard road and not the easy road and find purpose and passion for why they serve.”
Caine “led counterterrorism strategy for the Homeland Security Council. He also developed the U.S. military’s plan to counter Iraq’s Scud ballistic missiles during the 2003 invasion; Saddam Hussein’s forces did not manage to fire a single Scud during the war,” USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/02/21/donald-trump-says-hes-replacing-joint-chiefs-chair-cq-brown/78332531007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a>.
In 2019, President Donald Trump <a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-2019-conservative-political-action-conference/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recalled</a> the first time he met Caine:
<blockquote>
I said, “What’s your name? “Sir, my name is Raisin.” What the hell kind of a name? I said, “Raisin, like the fruit?” He goes, “Yes, sir, Raisin.” “What’s your last name?” “Caine. Raisin Caine.” I said, “You got to be kidding me.” It’s true. Raisin Caine.&#8221;
</blockquote>
He continued, saying he asked Caine how quickly ISIS could be defeated. “Sir, we can have it totally finished in one week,” Caine answered. “One week? I was told two years,” Trump said. “One week?”
“That’s right, sir. We’re only hitting them from a temporary base in Syria. But if you gave us permission, we could hit them from the back, from the side, from all over — from the base that you’re right on, right now, sir. They won’t know what the hell hit them. They won’t know what the hell hit them, sir,” Caine answered.
“Why didn’t my other generals tell me that? Why didn’t they tell me that?” Trump asked, adding, “Did you tell them that?”
“Not our place to say it, sir,” Caine replied. “They come in from Washington, sir. We have to take orders. You’re the first one to ask us our opinion.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine confirmation hearing in Washington DC

‘Razin’ Caine Confirmed As Chairman Of Joint Chiefs Of Staff

Dan Caine

Joint Chiefs of Staff

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