Hegseth Went Behind Trump’s Back: Paused Weapon Shipments to Ukraine

A remarkable decision to pause weapon shipments to Ukraine has created internal strife within the U.S. government. The decision, made by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth without prior knowledge of President Donald Trump, has triggered a wave of criticism from both the White House and Congress.

Trump himself was visibly taken aback by the incident when, during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, he was asked who was responsible for the pause in shipments to Ukraine. “I don’t know, why don’t you tell me that?” was the president’s somewhat exasperated response.

The episode underscores a repeated pattern of chaotic decision-making processes in Trump’s administration. According to sources close to the matter, it’s the second time this year alone that the Secretary of Defense has independently decided to halt weapon deliveries to Ukraine. The first time was in February, when the decision was quickly reversed. This time, confusion reigned until Trump publicly ordered the resumption of shipments Monday evening.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, General Keith Kellogg, were also not informed before the pause and had to learn about it through the media. Congress now demands answers on how such a significant decision could be made without coordination with the President or the national security advisor.

The Pentagon defends the decision by stating that they wanted to review existing weapon stocks to ensure that shipments are in line with U.S. security policy interests. According to the Pentagon, the recommendation to pause shipments came from Deputy Secretary Elbridge Colby, an avowed skeptic of extensive military support to Ukraine.

Trump has since resumed the weapon shipments, particularly the crucial Patriot missiles, which are vital for Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks. “The Ukrainians are brave. Whatever one thinks about the economic support we provide, they are the ones operating the equipment and fighting back,” Trump stated on Tuesday.

This incident highlights the challenges of Trump’s often unpredictable leadership style but also the internal tensions in the government surrounding the Ukraine war, where Trump has recently taken a more critical stance toward Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Congress now expects a detailed report from the Pentagon to prevent similar situations in the future.

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