New York Times Deep Dive Alleges Pete Hegseth Donned Makeup for Ukraine Photo Op Then Ignored Counterpart

"A New York Times deep dive alleges that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth donned makeup for a February meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart during which he seemed much more concerned with his appearance than policy. The Times published a comprehensive story about the Trump administration's handling of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Tuesday in which it suggested that Hegseth began his tenure at the Pentagon as something of a blank slate on the war. He didn't have any of his own thoughts on Russia and Ukraine, an ex-Pentagon official told the Gray Lady. But he had civilian advisers who did."

"The ideological godfather of the group was Elbridge A. Colby, grandson of the Nixon-era C.I.A. director William E. Colby. The younger Mr. Colby and Mr. Vance had been introduced in 2015 by an editor at National Review who thought they were like-minded. Nearly nine years later, as Mr. Biden poured billions of dollars into arming Ukraine, Mr. Colby argued that we would have been better served to put a lot more of that money to use in the Pacific. Now, it was one of his disciples, Dan Caldwell, presenting the group's recommendations to Mr. Hegseth, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other military leaders."

"The Pentagon, Mr. Caldwell argued, should pause delivery of certain munitions that the Biden administration had promised to Ukraine, because, he believed, existing stocks were insufficient to execute America's war plans around the world. Nor should it use the additional $3.8 billion left unspent by the Biden administration to buy weapons for Ukraine."

Pete Hegseth wore makeup for a February meeting and appeared more focused on appearance than on policy. Hegseth entered the Pentagon without established views on Russia and Ukraine and depended on civilian advisers for direction. Advisers influenced discussions immediately, urging a U-turn on prior commitments. Elbridge A. Colby provided ideological guidance, favoring shifting resources toward the Pacific. Dan Caldwell, a Colby disciple, recommended pausing delivery of certain munitions promised to Ukraine and opposed using $3.8 billion left unspent to purchase weapons for Ukraine to preserve U.S. stockpiles for global plans.

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