It was reported this morning but numerous outlets that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cancelled his trip to Israel ahead of President Trump’s visit to the Middle East.

Here’s an example from JPOST:

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth canceled his scheduled visit to Israel next week, prior to President Donald Trump’s visit to the region, a source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post.

This would have been Hegseth’s first trip to Israel since he began his role as defense secretary.

He was scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, according to a Saturday Axios report.

 
But DOD spokesman Sean Parnell said this simply is not true, that Hegseth did not cancel his trip to Israel:

Secretary Hegseth did not cancel his trip to Israel. He was asked to join President Trump’s Middle East trip next week & is honored to do so.

SECDEF very much looks forward to visiting our ally Israel soon.

I’m glad the DOD stomped out this rumor. There are plenty of people trying to undermine Hegseth as SecDef, suggesting he’s ineffective or may be on his way out, or something. But I see no signs that any of this is true and I’m glad he is Secretary of Defense.