Hegseth Reportedly Called a Pentagon Advisor Who Opposed Strikes Against Alleged Drug Boats a 'P---y'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly launched a profanity-laced tirade against an adviser who spoke against the strikes against alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, according to a new report.

The Daily Mail claimed that Hegseth called an advisor who raised concerns about the strikes a "p---y" during a meeting in which the person was not present. He also said another advisor who questioned the legality of the attacks was "weak."

The outlet added that Hegseth is openly antagonizing those inside the Pentagon who are questioning the strategy. The ministry rejected the accounts.

"As someone who's in most meetings with the secretary, I can tell you from firsthand experience that this isn't true. He listens a lot, asks good questions, takes recommendations, and trusts his team and commanders," said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell to the Daily Beast.

"This is just more fake news from anonymous sources intended to undermine the Secretary and the president," he added.

However, Hegseth is also being questioned in public, even by some Republican lawmakers.

One of them is Rep. Don Bacon, who claimed that his recent decisions have "ruined his credibility."

Speaking to Politico's Dasha Burns, Bacon said that after the aftermath of the incident known as "Signalgate" and Hegseth's reaction to it he thinks he has "seen enough."

In another interview, Bacon said Hegseth's claim was "total baloney." "I have better words for it, but you can't say it on TV. I read the report and what I saw what had happened was wrong, but the report makes clear that the secretary put sensitive information that would ordinarily be classified," he added.

Another lawmaker criticizing Hegseth is Sen. Rand Paul, who said Hegseth should testify "under oath" about the second strike against an alleged drug boat in September that has landed him in hot water.

Speaking to press after seeing the footage of the strike, Paul said he also thinks "the video of the distressed, shipwrecked or incapacitated people on those boats being bombed, that video should be shown to every American."

In this context, The Atlantic detailed that there are increasingly fewer people willing to stand up for Hegseth in the administration. Moreover, the outlet added, Trump is growing tired of the scandals and and not pushing back against those saying he's not up for the job, also unhappy about the fact that congressional Republicans are taking advantage of the issues to stand up to the White House.