NEW POLL: Pete Hegseth’s Approval Rating Hits Rock Bottom Amid Iran War

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

According to a CNN poll shared by senior political reporter Aaron Blake on Friday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s approval rating has hit rock bottom amid the war with Iran.

“This week’s CNN poll was pretty brutal for Pete Hegseth,” wrote Blake on X.

“35% approval, 65% disapproval. That’s -30,” he continued. “76% of independents and 26% of GOP-leaners disapprove.”

Blake went on to cite last month’s polling from Quinnipiac University: “A month ago, @QuinnipiacPoll showed him -15 (37%-52%).”

These numbers come during an already rough news cycle for Hegseth. According to a Thursday report from NBC News, Hegseth is facing accusations that he personally moved to stall or block the promotions of more than a dozen senior military officers.

Multiple officials familiar with the matter told the outlet that some inside the Pentagon believe the decisions may have been influenced by race, gender, or the officers’ perceived connections to former President Joe Biden’s administration.

Also on Thursday, CBS News broke the story that Hegseth requested that the Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Randy George, retire. His list of prior removals includes: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife, and more.

The report continued:

A senior Defense Department official told CBS News, “We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.”

George previously served as the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021-2022, during the Biden administration, after decades of service. A career infantry officer and West Point graduate, George first served in the first Gulf War and the more recent conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Army chief of staff typically serves a four-year term. George was nominated for the position by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023, meaning he would typically have held the position until 2027.

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