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Waltz doubles down on Hegseth praise amid ongoing Pentagon controversy
Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz reiterated the administration’s support for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Sunday, saying they «couldn’t be prouder» of his early months in the role, despite a wave of high-profile controversies and resignations that have embroiled the department in recent weeks.
Speaking to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday, Waltz was pressed about the alleged dysfunction inside the Pentagon’s top ranks— and whether, in his view, the current Pentagon is equipped to deliver on lofty foreign policy goals, including helping broker a negotiated settlement in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
«Can you do this in what appears to be a chaotic, weakened Defense Department?» Bartiromo asked Waltz on «Sunday Morning Futures,» citing reports of chaos and dysfunction, including recent firings of Hegseth’s top aides, and reports he has been threatening polygraph tests for some staffers at the department.
«I’ll tell you about a weakened Pentagon,» Waltz fired back. «That was one that had a Defense Secretary that disappeared for two weeks just last year, and nobody knew about it.»
DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH REBUFFS NEW GROUP CHAT ALLEGATIONS AS ATTEMPT TO ‘SABOTAGE’ TRUMP’S AGENDA
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is seen at Guantanamo Bay earlier this year. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. ShaTyra Cox)
In contrast to his predecessor, Waltz said Hegseth is «leading from the front» at the Defense Department, and praised what he described as Hegseth’s early efforts to reform the Pentagon.
«He is leading the charge, and he has no tolerance for leaking,» Waltz said, dismissing the alleged chaos or dysfunction as a «media narrative,» and one he vowed they «are going to power through.»
Waltz also brushed off a question about the departures of senior aides, including Hegseth’s own chief of staff, Joe Kasper, last week.
The exodus of senior officials and other allegations of chaos from inside the Pentagon have prompted some Democrats to call for an investigation into his leadership.
But Waltz also brushed off these characterizations of dysfunction on Sunday. Asked by Bartiromo how he was going to replace the fired Pentagon officials, Waltz said in response: «Maria, there’s 20,000 people in the Pentagon.»
«There is a record number of generals,» he said. «And the other piece— there is accountability. We have had several general officers that weren’t getting the job done, and admirals get fired and get replaced… That’s what the Pentagon needs.»
Waltz argued that that is a stark contrast to the longtime culture at the Pentagon, where he said «no one ever gets fired, [and] there’s never a sense of accountability.»
«And now there is,» he told Bartiromo.
«Whether it’s leaks, or not getting the job done, or failures in terms of procurement acquisition, now you have a leader that’s in charge,» Waltz said. «And I couldn’t be prouder of Pete Hegseth.»
HEGSETH SHARED DETAILS OF YEMEN STRIKES IN SECOND SIGNAL CHAT: REPORT
Pete Hegseth, left, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Defense secretary, shakes hands with Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss. after his Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Waltz’s remarks come as Hegseth’s role has come under mounting scrutiny in recent weeks — both for his participation in at least one Signal group chat in March where he discussed a planned military strike against the Houthis, and the firing of several senior staffers earlier this month.
Hegseth earlier this month fired three top aides: including his aide, Dan Caldwell, his deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and the chief of staff to the deputy defense secretary, Colin Carroll.
These oustings were described as both «baffling» and alarming by John Ullyot, a former Pentagon communications official who resigned earlier this year.
«The dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership,» Ullyot wrote in an op-ed for Politico.
The White House, however, has sought to emphasize its support for Hegseth in recent days, with both Vice President JD Vance and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt vehemently dismissing reports that the administration could be considering a possible replacement.
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«Let me reiterate: The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth and the change that he is bringing to the Pentagon, and the results that he’s achieved thus far speak for themselves,» Leavitt told reporters at a briefing last week, describing the reports as a «smear campaign.»
Trump’s First 100 Days,Pete Hegseth,Pentagon,Politics,National Security
INTERNACIONAL
Un perro desenterró un pie humano de un basural y se reveló un macabro crimen que conmocionó a Chile
En la tarde del 27 de marzo de 2006, un macabro hallazgo estremeció a los vecinos de la comuna de Puente Alto, en la zona sur de Santiago de Chile, cuando un perro callejero que caminaba por un sector cercano a un basural apareció con algo extraño en el hocico.
Un joven que lo vio se acercó con curiosidad y descubrió que el animal llevaba un pie humano entre los dientes. Ese fue el principio de uno de los casos policiales más impactantes de la historia reciente del país, al punto de haber inspirado libros, obras de teatro y documentales.
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Durante los días siguientes, se encontraron más restos humanos en distintos puntos del sur de la capital, lo cual confirmó que no se trataba de un hecho aislado: alguien había asesinado a una persona y luego descuartizado su cuerpo para abandonar las partes en diferentes lugares.
Si bien la víctima tardó varios días en ser identificada, su historia generó una fuerte conmoción en la sociedad chilena.
Un crimen escalofriante
Tras la denuncia de los vecinos por el hallazgo del pie humano, el fiscal Pablo Sabaj llegó a la escena para iniciar la investigación y las primeras pericias junto a los Carabineros de Chile.
Un día después, en el mismo sector de Puente Alto, los policías encontraron la cabeza de la víctima en un estado perturbador: tenía dos impactos de bala calibre 9 milímetros, presentaba cortes en las mejillas y le habían arrancado la nariz.
El 29 de marzo aparecieron los brazos del cadáver, aunque sin las manos. Se comprobó que el asesino había arrancado la piel para hacer “desaparecer” cuatro tatuajes del cuerpo. Un día más tarde, hallaron el pie izquierdo de la víctima.
Los descubrimientos continuaron el 3 de abril, cuando dos mujeres que recolectaban plástico en una avenida de Puente Alto denunciaron haber encontrado dentro de una bolsa dos manos a las que les habían arrancado las huellas digitales.
Esa misma noche se encontró un torso dentro de un contenedor de basura en la comuna de San Bernardo. El cuerpo estaba mutilado: le habían extraído las vísceras y también los glúteos.
Mientras tanto, los investigadores avanzaron con pruebas de ADN y confirmaron que todos esos restos humanos pertenecían a una sola persona. Sin embargo, por el estado en el que se encontraban, se dificultaba la identificación de la víctima.
El tatuaje de Cupido que ayudó a los investigadores a identificar a la víctima. (Foto: 24 horas CL)
A pesar de ello, los peritos forenses lograron reconstruir las diez huellas digitales a partir de pequeños bordes de piel, que luego fueron comparados con registros oficiales. Además, hubo un detalle que se volvió clave: en uno de los brazos había quedado un tatuaje de Cupido que el asesino no había eliminado.
El 6 de abril, diez días después del primer hallazgo, la fiscalía logró identificar a la víctima como Hans Hernán Pozo Vergara, un joven de 20 años que tenía antecedentes por hurto y que había cumplido una condena en la cárcel de San Miguel.
El caso generó un gran impacto en la sociedad chilena y rápidamente los medios de comunicación lo apodaron como el caso del “Descuartizado de Puente Alto”. Se conoció además que le decían “El Rucio” o “El Julipi” y que había vivido en situaciones de extrema violencia y marginalidad.
Pozo había sido abandonado por su madre cuando tenía cuatro años y pasó su infancia en diferentes hogares para menores. Más tarde, uno de sus tíos se hizo cargo de él, pero la relación familiar se deterioró cuando el joven comenzó a consumir drogas. A los 16 años, empezó a vivir en la calle y a robar.
Mientras la Policía de Chile reconstruía su historia, una pista surgió desde otro lado. Días antes de su muerte, Pozo había pasado la noche junto a cuatro hombres en una garita ubicada en la avenida Santa Rosa, en Puente Alto. Cuando los investigadores los interrogaron, todos mencionaron el mismo apellido: Martínez.
Jorge Martínez Arévalo, el presunto asesino de Hans Pozo. (Foto: Emol)
En paralelo, los peritos aportaron otra información clave: el cadáver de Hans Pozo había sido refrigerado antes de ser abandonado. Según los estudios del equipo forense, las larvas de moscas encontradas en los restos tenían el mismo nivel de desarrollo, lo que indicaba que el cuerpo había permanecido en un ambiente frío y que habían repartido las partes en diferentes días.
Finalmente, los investigadores dieron con un sospechoso, Jorge Iván Martínez Arévalo, un hombre de 41 años que trabajaba en la Municipalidad de La Pintana, y que además era dueño de una heladería ubicada junto a su casa, en el mismo sector de Santa Rosa.
El trágico final
En la tarde del 8 de abril de 2006, efectivos del Carabineros se presentaron en la heladería de Martínez para interrogarlo. Sin embargo, al escuchar que los funcionarios llegaban, el sospechoso activó la alarma contra robos, corrió a su habitación y, después de gritar durante unos segundos, se disparó en la cabeza.
La familia del hombre rechazó esa versión y aseguró que fueron los propios policías quienes le dispararon. A pesar de ello, la Justicia determinaría después que la muerte se produjo por una herida autoinfligida.
Tras el hecho, la esposa de Martínez encontró una extensa carta de 20 páginas en la que él explicaba su relación con Hans Pozo. En ese escrito afirmaba que el joven lo extorsionaba porque aseguraba ser su hijo biológico y amenazaba con revelar ese secreto a la familia.
Martínez expresó además que, para evitarlo, había contratado a dos supuestos policías para que intimidaran a Pozo y lograran que fuera preso por un tiempo. Sin embargo, cuando comenzaron a aparecer las noticias del “Descuartizado de Puente Alto”, entendió que la situación había escalado a un nivel mucho más grave.
Hans Pozo tenía 20 años cuando fue asesinado. (Foto: Emol)
En la carta, el comerciante dijo que quienes habían realizado el trabajo comenzaron a exigirle más dinero, lo que lo llevó a dejar una prueba de lo ocurrido en ese documento.
Después de su muerte, se realizaron pruebas de ADN que descartaron cualquier vínculo biológico entre Martínez y Pozo.
La investigación continuó con el análisis de la heladería del sospechoso. Allí, con pericias realizadas con la técnica del luminol se detectó una mancha de sangre que había sido lavada. Los resultados determinaron que ese rastro pertenecía a la víctima y que su cuerpo había estado en ese lugar después de recibir los disparos.
También se encontraron restos de sangre del joven en la camioneta de Martínez y marcas de las mismas balas que lo asesinaron en el sótano de la heladería. El arma utilizada era la misma que el sospechoso utilizó para quitarse la vida.
El 14 de abril de 2006, el Servicio Médico Legal entregó los restos de Hans Pozo a su familia adoptiva y su velorio se realizó en una sede social de La Pintana, al cual asistieron cerca de 300 personas.
Leé también: La historia del joven de 19 años que asesinó a puñaladas a su vecino y declaró: “El diablo me obligó”
Un año más tarde, en 2007, la fiscalía concluyó que Jorge Martínez Arévalo había sido el autor del homicidio y descuartizamiento. Aún así, la investigación siguió abierta durante varios años para determinar si existían otros involucrados.
Finalmente, el 18 de abril de 2013, el fiscal Pablo Sabaj solicitó el sobreseimiento de la causa, ya que no se pudo comprobar la participación de terceros en el crimen.
Chile, Asesinato, descuartizado, Crimen, Sumario
INTERNACIONAL
Stranded American in Bahrain recounts surviving reported Iranian strike on high-rise building, pleads for help
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As the conflict between the United States and Iran enters its second week, flight cancellations and airport closures have rippled across Middle Eastern airspace, leaving many Americans abroad scrambling to find a way home.
Stranded American citizen Yahir, who was in Bahrain when the conflict erupted, told Fox News Digital he had a close call over the weekend when an alleged Iranian drone slammed into the lower floors of a high-rise building where he was staying. The building was a luxury residential tower that reportedly housed many American tourists and U.S. Navy personnel likely stationed with the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquartered near the capital, Manama.
Yahir, from Los Angeles, said that despite witnessing terrifying scenes of the conflict and experiencing one firsthand, he is still waiting for help getting home, claiming local U.S. embassies and State Department officials have put him through a maze of logistical hurdles with no clear next steps.
«Two days ago, my building was hit,» Yahir said, referring to Fontana Infinity, located in Manama. «I was in the building at the time and, of course, the whole building shook. It felt like an earthquake.»
STATE DEPARTMENT GIVES UPDATES ON AMERICANS FLEEING MIDDLE EAST
Fire erupts from a high-rise tower in Manama, Bahrain, following a reported strike. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
«It was a shock, but it makes sense because everyone living there was American besides a few Russians here and there, but Fontana was full of American Navy,» he added.
Yahir added that he has witnessed horrific scenes of Iranian drones and missiles reportedly striking not only military targets but also civilian areas, triggering powerful explosions and sending massive plumes of smoke billowing into the air.
«We saw right in front of our faces, the drone hitting it,» Yahir said, describing the moment he witnessed a building being struck. «I remember everyone around there was crying. They were evacuating all the buildings. People were crying. It felt really devastating.»
A reported Iranian jet flies over Bahrain at night amid escalating regional tensions. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
Impacts have reportedly become a daily occurrence, with some blasts feeling like earthquakes that would violently shake nearby areas.
«The interceptors were hitting the missile and the ground shaking. You’ll feel that every day at this point,» he said. «It’s been literally everyday.»
The chaos in the region has reportedly led to residents receiving numerous daily alerts of incoming missiles on their phones. Each warning forces civilians to take immediate shelter, Yahir said, recalling one instance when he had to shelter in the basement of a well-known mall, The Avenues, for more than an hour.
«At this point, I’m thinking I even get them when I’m sleeping and it wakes me up,» he said. «I feel like over ten times a day we get those alerts.»
TRUMP SAYS DEFENSE GIANTS WILL QUADRUPLE PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS
A massive hole is visible in the Bahrain high-rise where Yahir was staying following a strike in Manama. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
The ongoing missile strikes have profoundly affected daily life in Bahrain, turning once-bustling areas into virtual «ghost towns.»
Yahir said his friends have stopped going to work, and that shops are either fully closed or closing far earlier than usual.
He added that the heightened security presence is palpable across the country, with police stationed on nearly every corner and large military vehicles patrolling the streets daily.
PRIVATE SECURITY FIRM HELPING AMERICANS EVACUATE THE MIDDLE EAST AMID WAR WITH IRAN
A Bahrain high-rise is seen ablaze in Manama after being struck amid regional conflict. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
Yahir further expressed deep frustration with the local U.S. Embassy, saying there has been little government assistance and describing the overall experience as «terrible.»
When inquiring about evacuation flights, calls to the embassy often triggered an automated message stating that citizens should not expect help from the U.S. government and that the embassies cannot assist with anything, according to Yahir.
«I feel like they need to focus on the embassies around the world because I feel they’re useless to Americans. They don’t help us at all,» Yahir said. «I just want to go home.»
Despite submitting a crisis intake form shared by the State Department, he has received few updates on evacuation plans. The delays and lack of clear communication, he said, have left him feeling stranded and anxious, with no concrete plan for returning home.
Flames and smoke billow from a high-rise building in Manama after an apparent drone strike. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)
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Over 40,000 American citizens have safely returned to the United States from the Middle East since Feb. 28, the State Department told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. A spokesperson noted that U.S. authorities directly assisted over 27,000 of those Americans abroad by offering travel assistance and other security guidance.
«Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio’s leadership, the Department of State has completed over two dozen charter flights and has safely evacuated thousands of Americans from the Middle East,» the department said. «The State Department will continue to actively assist any American citizen, who wishes to depart the Middle East, to do so.»
American citizens stranded in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are urged to complete the Crisis Intake Form on the State Department website or call +1-202-501-4444.
middle east,iran,conflicts,us
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Border Patrol Chief Bovino says Chicago efforts ‘vindicated’ after court reverses order restricting operations
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Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino declared the Trump administration’s Chicago immigration crackdown «vindicated» Monday after a federal appeals court threw out a sweeping injunction that had curtailed enforcement operations in the city.
On Monday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit tossed out a preliminary injunction against federal officers enforcing immigration law in the Chicago area issued by Obama-appointed Judge Sara Ellis. The circuit court issued a blistering rebuke of the Ellis’ injunction, calling it «overbroad» and «constitutionally suspect.» The ruling effectively erases the lower court’s restrictions on federal immigration operations in Chicago, delivering a legal victory to federal immigration authorities and giving the controversial official fresh political ammunition after months of backlash.
After the ruling, Bovino posted on X, «Chicago efforts vindicated!!! Well done.»
«What’s not suspect is legal, ethical, and moral Border Patrol Agents conducting operations in Chicago. Well done, Border Patrol! TRUTH came through!» he wrote in another post.
JEWISH LEADERS WANT CHICAGO MAYOR TO CREATE ANTISEMITISM TASK FORCE
U.S. Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino and his men stop at a gas station while on patrol on December 17, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Bovino was recently pulled out of his leading role in Minneapolis amid intense controversy over the killing of two anti-ICE activists, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal officers. He has faced intense criticism from Democrats across the country.
In his previous role as Border Patrol commander at large, Bovino became the face of many of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations, including Chicago, Minneapolis and Los Angeles.
Bovino was replaced by Border Czar Tom Homan in heading the Minneapolis operation in January. He was returned to his previous role as chief of the Border Patrol’s El Centro Sector in Southern California.
Despite the criticisms leveled against him, after the circuit court ruling, Bovino touted Border Patrol agents as the «most highly trained, experienced agency ready to take on expeditionary type missions in the toughest of environments.»
«Our operations are conducted with much foresight with the most experienced, proven, and battle hardened agents the Border Patrol has to offer to ensure we WIN every time,» he added in another tweet celebrating the ruling.
FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR SLAMS PRITZKER FOR ‘MALPRACTICE’ AS BEARS LOOK TO FLEE TO RED STATE
Police take two people into custody, as tear gas fills the air after it was used by federal law enforcement agents who were being confronted by community members and activists for reportedly shooting a woman in the Brighton Park neighborhood on October 4, 2025 in Broadview, Illinois. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
In its ruling, the appeals court panel faulted Ellis for applying her injunction not just to specific officers but «the entire Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, as well as anyone acting in concert with them.» The panel criticized this, saying it «effectively established the district court as the supervisor of all Executive Branch activity in the city of Chicago.»
Ellis had issued a lengthy 233-page opinion explaining why she granted the class-wide preliminary injunction against Homeland Security and Justice Department authorities carrying out immigration enforcement in Chicago. Her order followed a string of clashes between protesters and agents during Operation Midway Blitz, the effort launched last year by the Trump administration to crack down on illegal immigration and street crime in Chicago.
Ellis justified the injunction by saying it was not novel and that it only ordered federal agents to follow current DHS policies regarding use of force and body-worn cameras.
BLUE-STATE GOVERNORS MOVE TO KEEP HEAT ON NOEM AS DHS FIRES BACK
Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino walks through a gas station while searching for undocumented immigrants on November 17, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
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«In other words, the Court’s order should break no new ground, and indeed it tracks similar orders entered in other crowd control cases across the country,» Ellis said.
Fox News Digital’s Ashley Oliver and Louis Casiano and Fox News’ Bill Melugin contributed to this report.
illegal immigrants,immigration,sanctuary cities,enforcement,homeland security,chicago,migrant crime
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