‘STUPID’: Trump Snaps at Reporter Over Question on Pete Hegseth

During a prime-time interview commemorating his 100th day in office, President Donald Trump brushed off a question from ABC News’ Terry Moran regarding his confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, labeling it “stupid.”

Moran pressed Trump on his recent discussions with Hegseth, who has faced scrutiny for using the encrypted Signal messaging app for official matters, amid a broader shake-up at the Pentagon that has seen several top aides depart.

“Did you take him to the woodshed?” Moran asked.

“I had a talk with him, and whatever I said, I probably wouldn’t be inclined to tell you, but we had a good talk,” Trump replied.

“He’s a talented guy, he’s young, he’s smart, highly educated, and I think he’s gonna be a very good defense—hopefully a great defense secretary, but he’ll be a very good defense secretary,” he continued.

Moran followed up by asking, “You have 100% confidence in Pete Hegseth?”

Trump shot back, “I don’t have 100% confidence in anything, okay? Anything. ‘Do I have 100%’ – It’s a stupid question.”

When Moran responded, “It’s a pretty important position,” Trump doubled down.

“No, no, no,” he said. “You don’t have 100% – only a liar would say I have 100% confidence. I don’t have 100% confidence that we’re gonna finish this interview.”

“We will,” Moran assured him.

WATCH:

Trump knocks ‘stupid question’ from ABC’s Terry Moran in interview exchange

President Donald Trump took a swipe at a “stupid question” from ABC News correspondent Terry Moran about his confidence in Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Fox News

Earlier that day, during the first of two events marking his 100 days in office, Trump surprised Michigan’s Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer—considered a likely 2028 presidential candidate—by inviting her to speak at an event.

Speaking at Selfridge Air National Guard Base near Detroit, Trump unexpectedly praised Whitmer, clips of which soon made their way around social media.

“I want to thank Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer,” he said. “You know, I’m not supposed to do that. She’s a Democrat. They say, ‘don’t do that, don’t have her here.’ I said, ‘No, she’s going to be here… she’s done a very good job.’”

Trump added, “For decades, they’ve been trying to save this facility, including your governor, who has done a very good job. She came to see me. That’s the reason she came to see me, by the way, to save Selfridge. She was very effective.”

He then called Whitmer up to the podium, where she appeared visibly uneasy.

“Well, I hadn’t planned to speak,” Whitmer said, “but on behalf of all the military men and women who serve our country — and serve so honorably on behalf of the state of Michigan — I am really damn happy we’re here to celebrate this recapitalization.”

This was the second recent awkward encounter between Whitmer and the president. Earlier in the month, while waiting to meet with Trump in the Oval Office to discuss Selfridge’s future, she shielded her face behind a stack of binders to avoid being photographed.

After The New York Times published a photo of the moment—one that triggered backlash from some Democrats—Whitmer acknowledged that she regretted hiding from the cameras.

She did not attend Trump’s rally later that same day in Warren, roughly 20 miles north of Detroit.

Whitmer, 53, was once on Joe Biden’s shortlist for vice president in 2020 but was ultimately passed over in favor of Kamala Harris, as reported by the New York Post.

Her name briefly reemerged in 2024 as a possible presidential nominee after Biden exited the race. However, the nomination went to Harris, who was later defeated by Trump in the general election.