Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Approval Plummets Below All Trump Cabinet Peers
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth now records the lowest net approval among Trump’s cabinet members, according to recent polls.
Recent polls from Quinnipiac University and one outlet place Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at a net approval of -22, the lowest figure among all members of Donald Trump’s cabinet. By contrast, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sits at -8, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at -9, and Vice President JD Vance at -17. Analyst Harry Enten emphasized that Hegseth’s dismal rating has remained steady throughout his service and aligns with his outspoken advocacy for the Iran conflict, which has garnered less than 40 percent public support.
Historical parallels were drawn to Donald Rumsfeld’s -7 rating before the 2006 midterms and to former officials Pam Bondi (-20) and Kristi Noem (-16) before they left office. Despite the trend, President Trump posted on Truth Social that he is “extremely happy” with Hegseth’s performance, yet analysts warn the mounting “red lights” could jeopardize his position ahead of the upcoming midterms. a anchor at one outlet echoed concerns about the polling signals for Hegseth’s job security.
Why it matters
A defense chief with historically low approval may influence U.S. Iran policy and affect upcoming election dynamics.
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