President Donald Trump praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a summit, recalling Hegseth's past advocacy for pardoning soldiers who "killed a lot of people." Trump recounted conversations where Hegseth urged pardons for troops "trained to kill and that's what they did."

Trump noted his own history of granting such pardons, humorously placing blame on Hegseth if any released soldiers misbehaved. He also complimented Hegseth's previous career as a Fox News presenter, suggesting he found his current role at the Pentagon more fulfilling.

The president's remarks touched upon his first term, when Hegseth, then at Fox News, lobbied for pardons for Edward Gallagher, Mathew Golsteyn, and Clint Lorance. Gallagher faced charges related to stabbing a prisoner, while Golsteyn and Lorance were accused of killing civilians. Trump ultimately pardoned Golsteyn and Lorance, and reversed Gallagher's demotion.

Since taking office at the Pentagon, Hegseth has focused on removing "woke" ideology and promoting a "warfighting" mentality within the military. He gained international attention for his assertive press briefings during the Iran war.