The Pentagon is pushing back on reports of internal strife among Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s top advisers. The Washington Post on Tuesday detailed tensions between senior aides Eric Geressy and Ricky Buria, calling their relationship “the most combustible” in the front office and suggesting it has sparked doubts about Hegseth’s longevity in the role.
Defense spokesman Sean Parnell downplayed the drama, saying such tensions are natural in high-functioning teams. “Americans don’t care about palace intrigue,” he told the Post, adding the department is united behind President Trump’s defense agenda.
Reports also revealed Hegseth once shared strike plans for Yemen in a private Signal chat, prompting an internal probe. Meanwhile, Buria, a Biden-era holdover, has criticized Trump’s policies and VP JD Vance’s views, adding to the tension.
Still, Trump remains supportive. “He’s a tough cookie,” the president told earlier. “That’s what we want.”
