ISTANBUL

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s alleged suspicion that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll might replace him contributed to the dismissal of the army’s top general, the New York Post reported on Saturday, citing US officials.

On Thursday, Hegseth called for the resignation of US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George—Driscoll’s senior aide—during the ongoing conflict in the Middleast, though no public explanation was given for the decision.

“This is all driven by the insecurity and paranoia that Pete has developed since Signalgate. Unfortunately, it is stoked by some of his closest aides who should be trying to calm the waters,” an official said, referring to Hegseth’s March 2025 group chat with national security officials that accidentally included a reporter and may have included confidential information, putting members of the US military at risk.

Two additional army generals, Gen. David Hodne, who led the army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green of the army’s Chaplain Corps, were also removed in the sweep, with the department saying only that “it was time for a leadership change.”

“(Hegseth) has got a big conflict with Driscoll. And he’s been told by the White House he can’t fire Driscoll, at least for the moment,” a source close to the Trump administration said.

“(Hegseth) is very concerned about being fired and he knows that Driscoll is one of the top contenders, or a natural contender, to succeed him. So what Pete has been doing is taking anyone he perceives to be close with Driscoll and going after them. And this is the latest and most spectacular (example) of that.”

Driscoll is a longtime friend of Vice President JD Vance; the two attended Yale Law School together after serving in the Iraq War. His name was mentioned last summer as a potential successor to Hegseth, and concerns from the Pentagon chief grew stronger in the fall when Driscoll took on a role as a negotiator in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Hegseth was Trump’s second choice for defense chief, after it became clear disgraced former Congressman Matt Gaetz would not be approved. He has faced several controversies during his tenure, and some reports suggest Trump might seek to blame Hegseth for the Iran war not going as the administration had planned.