Hong Kong's South China Morning Post reported exclusively on the 18th that, according to multiple sources, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing risk of losing his job due to a combination of factors. The White House and the Pentagon have yet to respond.
Hegseth is 'on the verge of losing his job,' the SCMP cited anonymous sources as saying, with the stalled U.S.-Iran war and negotiations and a series of negative media reports considered the main reasons. One source said concerns are growing over conditions aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been at sea for more than eight months, with reports of food shortages and poor sanitation among the crew; in addition, the lack of 'substantive progress' in the U.S.-Iran conflict has particularly angered U.S. President Trump. Another source said bluntly: '(Hegseth's) job is hanging by a thread.'
The SCMP cited expert analysis suggesting Trump may need 'someone to take responsibility for the U.S.-Iran war.' As of now, neither the White House nor the Pentagon has responded to the matter.
The controversy surrounding the Lincoln has recently erupted. Multiple media reported that the Lincoln, deployed to the Middle East over the U.S.-Iran conflict, has been at sea for more than eight months, 250 consecutive days without port call, with its deployment repeatedly extended and no end in sight. About 5,000 crew members are demoralized, and with material shortages and poor living conditions, several have suffered mental breakdowns and attempted to jump overboard.
Responding to media reports of various problems aboard the Lincoln, Hegseth said on Aug. 13 that the media had made 'completely misleading' reports. Trump on Aug. 14 denied that sailors' families were increasingly worried about the crew's safety, emphasizing that the carrier would soon be replaced by 'a very similar ship.' When asked whether the Lincoln had been deployed for too long, Trump answered: 'No, no, no... not nearly enough.'
As the controversy grew, pressure on Hegseth mounted. Senate Minority Leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, called on social media on Aug. 13 to 'immediately fire' Hegseth. Multiple Democratic lawmakers also wrote to Hegseth demanding specific answers about the carrier.
Source: Global Times | Original
