Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared checked out and despondent at a White House event as rumors swirl that Pentagon insiders are ready to spill the beans on him. At a White House roundtable on Wednesday, Trump touted his administration’s efforts to prevent cybercrime. They included cracking down on fraudulent foreign crypto investments targeting Americans, Reuters reported. A clip of the former Fox News host sniffling and looking glum with downcast eyes went viral. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks during a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago club on January 03, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. During the event, President Trump confirmed that the U.S. military carried out a large-scale strike in Caracas overnight, resulting in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Social media erupted in speculation over Hegseth’s condition and whether it could possibly be related to drugs and/or alcohol. Hegseth has batted down stories about his drinking before. “He sure is jumpy, and wired acting…,” an X user noted. At least 10 current and former colleagues told NBC News that Pete Hegseth’s drinking caused concern during his time co-hosting “Fox Friends Weekend.” Some even said they smelled alcohol on him before he went on the air and that he talked about his hangovers on other occasions. Retired NYPD Cop Once Praised for Stopping Armed Robbery Now Charged in Father’s Deadly Shooting ‘This Is Nuts’: Nolan Wells’ Friends Get Judge to Silence Black Influencer from Posting About Them “That’s an alcoholic needing a drink,” another commenter speculated. Others piled on. “That look when all you’re thinking about is your flask.” “That’s the look of: what the hell did I get myself into, and what’s going to happen to me after the midterms,” this poster surmised. Democrats have reportedly begun contacting potential Pentagon whistleblowers ahead of the upcoming midterms. Many expect Democrats to regain control of the House, where Republicans hold a razor-thin majority. According to the Daily Telegraph, military members stand ready to “spill their guts” if Democrats investigate how Hegseth runs the world’s largest military. The news outlet reported that Dems are already preparing subpoenas for his closest aides, including his chief of staff, Rickey Buria, and his wife, Jen Hegseth. “There’s going to be a lot of people that are going to very quietly go to the chair of the Armed [Services] Committee and are going to spill their guts, provide them with everything they can and leak everything they can,” according to a source the Telegraph interviewed. “It’ll be horrendous. It’ll be consistent embarrassment.” Hegseth’s time at the helm of the Pentagon has been marked by chaotic staffing decisions, top-brass turmoil, and stoking culture wars in the U.S. military. Not to mention, Trump has made him the poster boy for his boondoggle of a war in Iran, now in its eighth month. An unnamed Democratic member of Congress told the Telegraph that while impeachment is their top objective, they won’t pursue it until: “We have done a thorough investigation and have all the facts to hand.” Just last month, outgoing Republican congressman Thomas Massie accused the embattled defense chief of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” In a House Resolution, Massie listed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth. Massie’s impeachment filing against Hegseth came after a damning new report by the Pentagon’s Inspector General showing the massive costs of Trump and Hegseth’s war on Iran. Hegseth told Congress in August that the war’s true cost is more than $42 billion, up $4.5 billion from his previous estimates, according to The Hill. In fact, one expert the news outlet spoke to estimated the true cost at upwards of $100 billion. Rather than risk an impeachment vote, Speaker Mike Johnson sent the House home almost two months before the Nov. 3 midterm election. Checking in on Hegseth pic.twitter.com/cmeh1VH0X2— Acyn (@Acyn) October 21, 2026 ‘Sure Is Jumpy’: Sniffling Hegseth Crumbles Next to Trump as Pentagon Insiders Ready to Turn on Him  ...read more read less