Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth's rocky relationship with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has spilled into public view, with tensions escalating amid war tensions.
Driscoll described his fondness for the Army's former top general, Randy George, whom Hegseth fired on April 2, calling him 'an amazing, transformation leader.'
White House officials said Hegseth has the confidence of the president, who is pleased with the job he is doing running the Pentagon, but the firing of a highly respected general during a war has triggered fresh criticism within the Pentagon and in some Trump circles of Hegseth's leadership.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery panned Hegseth's decision to fire George, saying 'effectively stripping the Army of a senior leader in a wartime environment, while trying to undergo transformation procurement-wise, I couldn't think of two things I'd rather not do than that.'
The friction between Hegseth and Driscoll has been ongoing since early 2025, with tensions increasing over the course of that spring, which was plagued with scandals for the Pentagon chief.
Driscoll told lawmakers that he and his family drove straight from North Carolina to George's house, where the whole family 'gave him a hug.'
Some Republican lawmakers praised Driscoll's leadership of the Army, while lamenting Hegseth's treatment of George.
