Hegseth cancels Israel trip to join Trump on Air Force One

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth cancelled his trip to Israel, which had been planned for Monday, in order to join President Trump on Air Force One for his trip to the Middle East, according to three Israeli and U.S. officials. Why it matters: Trump inviting Hegseth to travel with him to the Middle East is a signal that the president continues to embrace his secretary of defense even amid the storms that have surrounded him over the last three months. In an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker last week Trump said Hegseth "is doing a very good job" and that his job as secretary of defense is "totally safe."Behind the scenes: According to an Israeli official Hegseth's trip plan to Israel has been ready for several days. He was supposed to meet his counterpart, Israel Katz, and prime minister Netanyahu. Briefings aboard an Israeli navy ship off the coast of Gaza were also on the agenda, the official says. The plan was for Hegseth to travel to Saudi Arabia from Israel on Tuesday and join Trump's visit. But on Thursday, Hegseth's team notified the Israeli ministry of defense that the trip is canceled because president Trump asked Hegseth to travel with him from Washington to Saudi Arabia on Air Force One, an Israeli official said.Two U.S. officials confirmed this account. State of play: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick are also scheduled to join Trump's trip.What they're saying: Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote on X that 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," Parnell added.

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