A major political storm is brewing inside Washington, D.C., as accusations fly that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may be blocking President Donald Trump’s direct orders on the war in Ukraine.
Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general and key member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the explosive claim that Hegseth is “routinely” stopping Ukraine from carrying out long-range strikes deep inside Russian territory — even after Trump personally authorized the missions.
Bacon posted a sharp warning on X (formerly Twitter), stating that while President Trump has approved long-range Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, the Pentagon keeps stepping in to block them. He questioned, “Who is really the Commander-in-Chief?” and reminded Republicans that they criticized Biden for holding back Ukraine’s capabilities — yet now, Defense Secretary Hegseth is doing the exact same thing. Bacon concluded by stressing, “We need to give freedom a chance to win.”
Trump’s Frustration With Putin Boiling Over
President Trump entered his second term determined to end the war in Ukraine and bring peace through strength.
But behind the scenes, Trump’s frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been growing sharply. Even after the historic August 15 summit in Alaska, where Trump pushed Putin to stop escalating the conflict, Russian forces have continued massive bombardments of Ukrainian cities.
On September 23, Trump stunned observers with a bold statement on Truth Social, declaring that he now believes Ukraine — with NATO backing — can win back stolen territory and force Russia to the negotiating table.
This marks a significant shift from Trump’s earlier position of cautious neutrality, showing his growing impatience with Putin’s actions.
Hegseth Under Fire: Defying the Commander-in-Chief?
Bacon’s accusations were reinforced by Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s Special Envoy to Ukraine, who delivered a fiery message on Fox News’ “The Sunday Briefing.”
“Everybody should follow what the president says,” Kellogg declared.
“He was elected. He’s the Commander-in-Chief by the Constitution. Everybody falls in line.”
When Fox anchor Jacqui Heinrich pressed Kellogg on whether Trump explicitly authorized long-range Ukrainian strikes, Kellogg didn’t hesitate:
“The answer is YES. Use the ability to hit deep. There are no safe havens for Putin’s war machine.”
Ukraine’s Urgent Plea for More Weapons
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued an emotional appeal for tougher action to stop Russia’s daily bombardments.
“Russia literally used every day, every hour to strike Ukraine,” Zelensky posted on X.
“They have rejected all peace proposals. They deserve the strongest possible pressure.”
Zelensky has directly asked the U.S. for Tomahawk missiles and other long-range weapons to hit Russian air bases and factories supporting Putin’s invasion. Kellogg confirmed the request, adding that Trump alone will decide whether to approve it.
Bacon echoed this urgency:
“Putin continues to relentlessly strike Ukrainian cities night after night. We must take urgent action — implement tougher secondary sanctions on Russia and provide Ukraine with the advanced weapons they need to secure victory.”
Why This Matters: A Deep State Clash?
This confrontation raises serious questions about the Pentagon’s loyalty to President Trump:
- Is Hegseth following orders — or quietly defying Trump’s strategy?
- Are unelected Pentagon officials trying to shape foreign policy behind the scenes, just like during Trump’s first term?
- Could this power struggle delay the end of the war and embolden Putin?
For many conservatives, this feels like déjà vu, reminiscent of past battles between Trump and the entrenched “deep state” bureaucracy that fought his agenda from within.
The Bottom Line
President Trump is determined to end the war in Ukraine on his terms — fast, decisively, and in America’s best interest.
But with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under fire, the Pentagon may be standing in Trump’s way, risking not only U.S. national security but also global stability.
This internal showdown could determine whether peace is achieved — or whether the conflict spirals further out of control.
Key Takeaways
- Rep. Don Bacon accuses Defense Secretary Hegseth of blocking Trump’s orders for Ukrainian strikes.
- Trump grows frustrated with Putin after failed peace efforts.
- Zelensky pleads for Tomahawk missiles and tougher U.S. action.
- A deep state power struggle may be brewing inside the Pentagon.