abcnews.go.com
President Donald Trump first called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to speak at Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.
“I could start with Pete on the left because he’s my least controversial person,” Trump said, prompting laughter from those seated around the table, including Hegseth.
Slapping Hegseth on the back, Trump added, “No, they don’t know how good he is.”
“Well, Mr. President, I think controversial because we’re over the target,” Hegseth said. The defense secretary went on to tout recruitment numbers and asserted an effort to build a “Golden Dome” defense system over the U.S. is “underway.”
President Donald Trump speaks next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, April 30, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
