Pete Hegseth reportedly has a volatile temperament, say insiders.
September 29, 2025, Published 2:45 p.m. ET
Pete Hegseth seems to be struggling in his role, directing his frustrations at his team, according to RadarOnline.com.
The Secretary of Defense appears to be increasingly agitated following the recent tragic death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, with insiders noting a concerning shift in his behavior over the past several weeks.
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Whatās Happening with Pete Hegseth?
Hegseth is reportedly feeling the pressure.
Two sources connected to Hegseth suggest the former Fox News analyst has displayed worsening anger towards his staff, exhibiting an āobsessionā with security matters.
āThereās a manic quality about him,ā noted one insider. āOr let me put it differently, an even more manic quality, which is really saying something.ā His behavior is described as visibly distracted, with reports of him pacing during meetings.
The other source elaborated, stating, āHeās crawling out of his skin.ā
The unusual conduct of Hegseth has also included allegations of dismissing Pentagon officials for communicating with media and congressional personnel.
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Did Pete Hegseth Throw A āTantrumā?
Hegseth, as Secretary of Defense under President Trump, has been lashing out at staffers.
Despite reportedly enduring multiple fumbles in his position, Hegseth remains in favor with President Trump, who has commended his efforts. Hegseth has recently advocated for renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War, voicing displeasure with staffers wishing to delay this change.
His explosive temper has become more apparent, particularly concerning military operations across regions including Europe and the Middle East, during which he has lashed out at his team for seemingly minor challenges.
āHe takes things personally when challenged ā full-blown tantrums,ā shared one source.
Another insider attributed Hegsethās increased anxiety to Kirkās assassination, describing him as ārattledā and ātense.ā
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Pete Hegsethās Challenges, Including Security Issues
Hegsethās response to Kirkās death indicates heightened stress.
āHeās spooked,ā commented an insider regarding Hegsethās demeanor since the incident.
RadarOnline.com has reached out to the White House for a statement.
Throughout his tenure, Hegseth has received criticism for his decisions and focus on purging military operations of perceived āwokeā policies.
At a recent Turning Point USA event in Florida, Hegseth discussed re-establishing military āstandards,ā noting issues like nail polish color and eyelash extensions over military protocol and diplomatic discussions. This follows announcements regarding new military dress codes aimed at refining grooming and appearance protocols for service members.
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The Secretary of Defense has faced substantial backlash over his recent decisions.
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āWeāre examining overall fitness, grooming, and basic standards that have deteriorated, particularly under the last administration,ā Hegseth shared with Congress.
In a short span, Hegseth has landed himself in heated controversies as national security officials, including Vice President JD Vance, top White House staff, three Cabinet secretaries, and intelligence agency directors utilized the Signal app for military discussions, resulting in sensitive information leaks.
Hegseth reportedly shared details about airstrikes, including aircraft types and launch timelines utilizing this chat, prompting a Pentagon investigation.
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Notwithstanding his struggles, Trump has supported Hegseth, branding him as ādoing a great job.ā
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