Trump Allies Turn on Each Other Amid Pentagon, Trade Turmoil/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Infighting has returned to the Trump administration, reigniting tensions over loyalty and policy disputes. Pentagon controversies and tariff-related feuds have exposed fractures among key officials and advisers. President Trump and his team continue to project unity despite growing internal strife and public clashes.
Trump Administration Infighting: Quick Looks
- Pentagon in Turmoil: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under fire for sharing military details via Signal; ex-officials demand his removal.
- Loyalty vs. Competence: Critics say personal devotion to Trump trumps experience or consistency within his inner circle.
- Trade Policy Divides: Tariff plans spark open clashes between officials like Peter Navarro and Elon Musk.
- White House Defense: Press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplays the disputes, calling the team collaborative.
- Loomer’s Influence: Far-right commentator Laura Loomer’s critiques have led to White House staff changes.
- Bolton’s Take: Ex-adviser John Bolton says current dysfunction stems from lack of ideology and Trump’s loyalty-first mindset.
- Chief of Staff Role: Susie Wiles, seen as a stabilizer, now faces a leadership test amid the mounting chaos.
Trump Allies Turn on Each Other Amid Pentagon, Trade Turmoil
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — The backbiting and dysfunction that marked President Donald Trump’s first term have once again become a hallmark of his presidency, as senior officials clash over trade policy, national security, and internal loyalty — with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the center of the storm.
Controversy intensified this week after revelations that Hegseth shared sensitive military information about U.S. airstrikes in Yemen through Signal, an encrypted messaging app. The group included not only top Trump officials, but also Hegseth’s wife, brother, and personal attorney — raising serious concerns about national security breaches.
The White House, however, is standing firmly behind Hegseth. “The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday. Trump himself called the uproar “same old stuff” and dismissed it as “fake news.”
Trouble Inside the Pentagon
John Ullyot, recently ousted as Pentagon spokesman, published a scathing op-ed calling for Hegseth’s removal and accusing him of presiding over a “full-blown meltdown.” Three other top officials — Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick — were recently pushed out, and in a joint statement, they alleged baseless attacks were made against them as part of internal power struggles.
The internal disarray has shaken confidence in the Pentagon’s leadership and highlighted the administration’s willingness to prioritize loyalty over qualifications. Hegseth responded to critics by blaming “leakers” and brushing off the Signal chat controversy as old news.
Trade Feuds Explode
Meanwhile, tensions over Trump’s aggressive tariff policy are causing open warfare among top advisers. Elon Musk, a Trump ally and influential voice on federal downsizing, blasted Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro as “dumber than a sack of bricks.” Navarro hit back, accusing Musk of protecting Tesla’s overseas supply chain interests.
The conflicting signals have left allies and markets confused, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisting tariffs were a negotiation tool, while Navarro proclaimed there would be no negotiations at all. Though Trump eventually scaled back some tariff plans, the public feuds have exposed a deeper lack of coordination within the administration.
The Influence of Laura Loomer
Far-right activist Laura Loomer has re-emerged as an unlikely power broker, recently securing an Oval Office meeting with Trump to express concerns about disloyal staffers. She provided what she claimed was evidence of anti-Trump views within the administration, leading to the dismissal of some officials.
Loomer, who once described the 9/11 attacks as an inside job, is now regularly attacking current White House staff and has targeted Bessent for allegedly collaborating with a “Trump hater.” Musk echoed her criticism, calling it “troubling” on social media.
Inside the Trump Circle
Former national security adviser John Bolton criticized the administration’s inner circle as being driven solely by personal allegiance to Trump.
“They’re fundamentally unserious,” Bolton said, describing the president’s team as lacking ideological coherence and governance experience.
The growing chaos now tests White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who had previously been praised for instilling order in Trump’s 2024 campaign and early months back in office. Known as “the ice maiden” by Trump, Wiles now finds herself managing an unraveling team amid high-stakes policy moves and relentless media scrutiny.
No Signs of Letting Up
Despite the turmoil, the Trump administration is showing no signs of slowing its pace. Leavitt insisted on Fox News that “the president and his team are getting work done,” brushing off the controversy as media spin.
However, the internal rifts — laid bare through leaked messages, online insults, and competing policy narratives — are threatening to erode the administration’s effectiveness just months into Trump’s second term. Critics worry that the dysfunction will only deepen as Trump pursues sweeping overhauls of the federal bureaucracy and trade system.
As power struggles dominate headlines, Trump appears unmoved by the controversy. His commitment to maintaining loyalty above all else continues to drive both his decisions and the resulting instability in the highest levels of American government.
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