Pete Hegseth accused of firing army general to | Political News
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during an event with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office (Image: Getty Images)
A senior Senate Democrat has alleged that the removing of an Army general was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s methodology of settling a personal vendetta.
Sen. Tim Kaine, showing on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, acknowledged that Army Gen. Christopher Donahue’s dismissal “caught us all by surprise.”
He additional urged that Hegseth has allowed his personal grievances to affect Department of Defense operations. It comes as Trump sparked health fears in a new video from his ‘most lovely’ aide.
“Are you pushing out the truth tellers to surround yourself by yes-men? And in particular, it looks like the secretary is coming down hardest … on the Army,” Kaine, 68, told host Margaret Brennan. “He served in the Army; he felt like he wasn’t treated well by the Army. That’s a grudge he’s carried that he’s described publicly.
“And so, when you see Army officers compelled out, you have obtained to marvel, is this a personal factor, or is it actually what’s best for the nation?” he continued.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., speaks during the Senate Democrat policy luncheon news conference (Image: AP)
In response to The Daily Beast, the Pentagon offered a measured rebuttal, with spokesperson Sean Parnell stating: “General officers and flag officers serve at the pleasure of the President and the Secretary of War. They always have and always will.”
Donahue had commanded U.S. Army Europe and Africa for 18 months prior to filing his retirement paperwork, according to The Washington Post. The 56-year-old, a former Delta Force commander, was notably the final American soldier to depart Afghanistan in 2021.
Reports indicate he clashed with Hegseth prior to his departure earlier this month. The U.S. Army expressed gratitude to Donahue for his service in an official statement, announcing he would “relinquish command” on July 2.
His deputy commander, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will assume leadership of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
U.S. Army General Christopher Donahue, left, and Polish General Wojciech Marchwica (Image: AP Photo/undefined)
“We are working on the protection invoice proper now. We have voted it out of the Senate Armed Services Committee,” Kaine said about Hegseth’s firings. “There is nothing in the invoice, at this level, that might deal with the scenario, but when we carry it up on the ground, I feel by then, we’ll have some of our questions answered, and if we need to go [further] to put some guardrails in place, you may most likely discover bipartisan assist to do that.”
Republicans join criticism of Hegseth’s actions
Hegseth has implemented extensive organizational changes at the Pentagon that detractors view as driven by political considerations.
Among those dismissed have been Navy Secretary John Phelan, Gen. Randy George, Gen. David Hodne, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. , Adm. Lisa Franchetti and approximately a dozen additional high-ranking officers.
He has additionally halted the advancement of roughly two dozen senior Black and female officers.
The restructuring of the DoD has generated frustration among Democrats and certain Republicans alike. “This just isn’t reinvigorating the warrior ethos. This just isn’t a chief prioritizing benefit. It’s sophomoric. It’s unserious. And it is bringing great hurt to our Department of Defense,” Sen. Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, wrote on X.
“Our navy deserves regular, severe civilian management. Right now, it is getting the alternative.”
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