- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth cancels his Israel trip to join President Trump on Air Force One for a Middle East visit.
- Hegseth’s change in plans signals continued support from Trump despite recent challenges.
- Other high-ranking officials, including Marco Rubio and Scott Bessent, will also join Trump’s Middle East trip.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had planned a trip to Israel for Monday. However, he canceled the trip to travel with President Trump on Air Force One. The change came as part of Trump’s Middle East trip. Officials from both Israel and the U.S. confirmed this decision. Hegseth’s new role is to accompany Trump as he travels to Saudi Arabia.
Why Hegseth’s Move Is Important
This decision signals that President Trump continues to support Hegseth. Despite the recent challenges surrounding the administration, Trump remains loyal to his secretary of defense. Trump praised Hegseth’s performance in a recent interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker. He said Hegseth “is doing a very good job.” Trump also reassured that Hegseth’s position as secretary of defense is “totally safe.” This shows the trust and respect Trump has for Hegseth.
Hegseth’s Original Plans for Israel
Hegseth’s trip to Israel had been in the works for days. He was scheduled to meet key Israeli leaders, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One of the planned activities was briefings aboard an Israeli navy ship off the coast of Gaza. These briefings were part of the official trip agenda. The original plan also included Hegseth traveling to Saudi Arabia after Israel to meet with Trump.
Sudden Change of Plans
The change in Hegseth’s travel plans came on Thursday. Hegseth’s team informed the Israeli Ministry of Defense that the trip to Israel would no longer happen. Instead, Trump personally invited Hegseth to join him on his Middle East trip. The invitation meant that Hegseth would travel with Trump from Washington to Saudi Arabia on Air Force One. U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed this update.
Other Officials Join Trump on the Middle East Trip
Hegseth is not the only one accompanying President Trump. Several other U.S. officials are also scheduled to travel with him. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick will all join the trip. These high-ranking officials will play key roles in the discussions during the visit.
Pentagon Clarifies Hegseth’s Decision
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell provided clarification about Hegseth’s canceled trip. He stated that Hegseth did not cancel his trip to Israel. Instead, he was asked to join President Trump’s Middle East trip. Parnell said Hegseth is honored to take part in the journey. He also mentioned that Hegseth looks forward to visiting Israel in the future. The clarification helped clear up any confusion about the change in plans.
