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What began Tuesday as a meandering, unfocused Cabinet meeting marked by a dozing president, rambling speeches and even a senior official’s doodles abruptly transformed into a combustible exchange as President Donald Trump declared he did not want Somalis in the United States and his defense secretary struggled to defend a lethal September strike in the Caribbean Sea.
Trump, slouched in his high-backed chair, repeatedly closed his eyes as Cabinet members delivered long, sometimes contradictory presentations—despite his warning that the group needed to move “quickly.” By mid-meeting, the session had drifted so far off-course that Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was lightly sketching mountains and a cloud on White House letterhead while cameras captured Trump fighting visible fatigue.
The president opened with a familiar blend of grievances and recycled talking points, including a renewed attack on a New York Times report questioning his stamina at age 79. “Trump is sharp,” he said in the third person — a declaration undermined minutes later as his eyelids drooped on live television.
Chaotic details underscore disorganization
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking first, praised the administration’s unilateral bid to rename the Pentagon the “Department of War,” a move that would require an act of Congress. His presentation was overshadowed by a glaring typo on his own nameplate, which labeled him “ssecretary of war,” quickly becoming fodder for ridicule and symbolizing the meeting’s lack of discipline.
Cabinet members also contradicted the president’s attempt to dismiss affordability concerns as a Democratic “con job.” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins described rising pressures on farmers; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent termed affordability a “crisis”; and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner cited first-time homebuyer struggles. The disconnect highlighted the administration’s inconsistent messaging on the economy.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, closing out the long procession of remarks, acknowledged the obvious: “I know I’m last, so I wanted to be fast. But there’s a lot to cover.”
Hegseth defends disputed strike under “fog of war”
Trump’s energy spiked only once reporters began asking questions. Hegseth was pressed about the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected narcotics vessel off Venezuela — an operation now under scrutiny amid reporting that a follow-up strike targeted survivors in the water.
Hegseth insisted he saw no survivors when the second strike was ordered, attributing the decision to the “fog of war” and saying he “didn’t stick around” for the remainder of the mission. His explanation left open significant gaps, particularly given internal accounts that contradict his version of events.
Trump escalates rhetoric against Somali immigrants
The meeting’s most inflammatory moment came when Trump declared he does not want Somali immigrants in the United States, describing Somalia as “barely a country” and accusing Somali Americans of relying on government assistance while contributing “nothing.”
“We don’t want them in our country,” Trump said, prompting applause from several Cabinet members.
The comments echoed earlier patterns of targeting immigrant communities and came as federal agencies prepare for enforcement actions in Minnesota, home to tens of thousands of Somali Americans. Critics warn Trump’s rhetoric risks inflaming tensions and reinforcing stereotypes.
Meeting ends with impatience, fatigue and unanswered questions
After more than two hours — shy of his record three-hour Cabinet marathon — Trump asked reporters, “After that, do you want to ask any questions?” before joking with a boom-mic operator about the physical endurance required to record the meeting. He then slapped the table twice, pushed back his chair and exited, leaving behind a Cabinet still processing the president’s remarks and a defense secretary facing renewed scrutiny.
