Hesseth vs. Vance’s associate: the conflict at the top of the American security establishment

While the American fighters were operating against Iran and during one of the most significant military moves of the United States military in the last 20 years, intense tensions were registered at the top of the American security establishment, the Wall Street Journal reported. According to the report, the relationship between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll is shaky, and the two have clashed several times in recent months.

Several major media outlets in the US reported that the tension is due, among other things, to the fact that Gasth is afraid that President Trump will appoint Driscoll to the position of Secretary of Defense in his place. In his current position, Driscoll is the civilian element in the administration responsible for the ground forces, and formally reports to Gasth. However, Driscoll is very close to Vice President Vance, with whom he went to university together, and he is seen as “protected” throughout the administration. In the Wall Street Journal It has been reported that in recent weeks, Hesseth’s spokesman, Sean Parnell, told administration officials that he had been promised a replacement for Driscoll.

According to the American newspaper, the relationship between the two senior officials started off on the wrong foot, after Driscoll suggested to Hegseth in early 2025 to organize a visit by Vance and Trump to the military, and hold a discussion on the reforms that are needed there. Hesseth was furious, raised his voice, made it clear to Driscoll that he was the one running things and ordered him to “stay the course.”

The tensions between the two only intensified in the following months, after Gasth got involved in several affairs. In November, Trump sent Driscoll to Ukraine to help negotiate a peace deal in the war with Russia — an unusual task for the secretary of the Army, raising questions about why Driscoll was chosen to carry it out, rather than Geseth. According to sources who spoke with the Wall Street Journal, the defense secretary told his associates that he wanted the White House to remove Driscoll from the negotiations. Shortly thereafter, Driscoll was indeed temporarily removed from the prominent role, and many of his media appearances were canceled.

At the beginning of 2026, the conflict between the two resumed, this time around a personnel issue. Hesseth and his men demanded that Driscoll remove several officers from a prestigious promotion list, including black and female officers, but Driscoll repeatedly refused to remove the names from the list. After that, the two had a heated frontal argument following a demand by Hesseth to fire one of the army’s senior officers.

Tensions came to a head after the promotion list controversy was exposed in the New York Times, and Gasth suspected that the top general in the Army, Randy George, was the leaker. The Secretary of Defense fired George unexpectedly in a phone call that lasted about a minute, without informing Driscoll.

George and Drissol had a close relationship. After the firing, Driscoll said he “loved George,” calling him an “amazing leader.” Some Republican lawmakers praised Driscoll around George’s impeachment, implicitly criticizing Hesseth. The Wall Street Journal reported that the defense minister’s conduct sparked renewed criticism within the Pentagon and also among certain elements in the Trump camp.

In an official statement, the White House spokeswoman praised the two senior officials, and the Pentagon also claimed that their relationship was good. Hesseth’s spokesman Sean Parnell denied he had discussed replacing Driscoll.