In general Europeans are glumly conceding the Trump team has a point, at least on Ukraine and defense matters.

In all, it was a bruising, 72-hour crash course in the geopolitical realities of a job that critics complain Mr. Hegseth, a 44-year-old former National Guard infantryman and Fox News host, is unqualified to hold. Mr. Hegseth’s trip to Europe, his first overseas visit since being sworn in on Jan. 25, started off on an unusual note.

European countries are unprepared for being abandoned by the United States. But it’s not without options for ensuring security.

Several viral social media posts claim that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was drinking alcohol during a NATO press conference.

A post shared on X claims Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that it would take seven years to build the necessary ships to confront Russia. Verdict: False Hegeseth said that the U.S. should increase its shipbuilding pace and lower procurement from seven years to three years.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed senior Pentagon officials and military leaders to forge plans that would result in an 8 percent cut to the defense budget for each year over the next five years.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is directing Pentagon agencies and the military to cut their budgets by 8 percent as part of a dramatic realignment of defense spending to address priorities of President Donald Trump such as protecting the border and modernizing the nuclear force.