Lack of Visibility: Donald Trump and Pentagon Clash

The unpredictability of Donald Trump and the inflexibility of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth have caused numerous clashes with senior US military officials in recent months.

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Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported on a situation that raised eyebrows: upset by Donald Trump’s erratic behavior, senior US military officials expelled him from the ‘Situation Room’.

The incident occurred on April 3 during a meeting to organize the rescue mission of two American officers whose plane was shot down over Iran.

Concerned about the impact on his image, the president shouted at his staff “for hours” to demand that the army immediately retrieve them, according to sources close to the matter at the Journal.

However, this was a particularly delicate mission. The US military had to find a way to enter Iranian soil while avoiding Iranian armed forces.

Donald Trump was ultimately ejected from the room. Advisers present believed it would be better for him to be kept informed of the mission’s developments by phone.

The Journal also reported that several of the president’s decisions and statements regarding the war are made without consulting military decision-makers.

This was notably the case when he threatened to ‘annihilate’ the Iranian civilization at the beginning of April.

Defense Secretary Continues Maneuvering in the Army

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that US Navy Secretary John Phelan was leaving his position “with immediate effect.”

The reasons for his departure were not explained.

The strained relations between the highest civilian official of the US Navy, who had no military experience before being appointed by Donald Trump 13 months ago, and Pete Hegseth have been highlighted by several US media outlets.

John Phelan’s departure is the latest episode of a reorganization within the senior leadership of the US military in the past year.

On April 2, in the midst of the war with Iran, Pete Hegseth obtained the resignation of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George.

Two other generals were dismissed as well.

Several analysts and former military officials have expressed concern over these dismissals, which they have described as ‘political,’ as Donald Trump seems to be using the military to impose his will on the international stage.

Since the beginning of his term, Pete Hegseth had decided to reduce the total number of senior officers within the US armed forces.

Nearly 25 generals and admirals have been “fired or sidelined” by the Defense Secretary since taking office, according to a count by the New York Times.