Newsmax Issues Gag Order on Pete Hegseth Criticism After Trump’s Outrage: Breaking It Means You’re Fired

Newsmax recently instructed its staff to stop criticizing Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, after a segment on the network upset Donald Trump.

Greg Kelly, who hosts a 9 p.m. show on Newsmax, made strong comments against Hegseth. He accused him of being “blackmailable” because of his personal scandals and claimed Hegseth hadn’t done enough for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement to deserve such an important position. Kelly’s comments were broadcast publicly, and they caught Trump’s attention.

Soon after the segment aired, Trump’s team contacted Newsmax’s CEO, Chris Ruddy, to express Trump’s anger. Some insiders said Trump even personally called Ruddy to complain about what was said, although Newsmax denied this. In their statement, Newsmax claimed, “President Trump never called Mr. Ruddy about the Hegseth nomination and never expressed any issues with Greg Kelly’s show.”

Even though Newsmax denied the direct call, it was clear that Trump was upset. According to sources, Ruddy was deeply affected by Trump’s reaction, with one insider saying he was “shaken” by the news.

In response to Trump’s displeasure, Newsmax quickly took action. Elliot Jacobson, the chief operating officer of Newsmax, held an urgent meeting with staff at the network’s headquarters in New York. During the meeting, Jacobson spoke firmly, even in what one source described as an “aggressive and panicked tone.” He told staff that any future discussions about Hegseth needed to be positive. If guests on the show brought up Hegseth’s controversies, the hosts were instructed to explain that these were only allegations and then quickly change the subject.

Jacobson gave a strict warning to everyone: if they didn’t follow these instructions, they could lose their jobs. This warning made it clear that Newsmax was taking Trump’s displeasure very seriously.

Despite the new rules, not everyone at Newsmax completely followed them. Greg Kelly, the same host who criticized Hegseth initially, toned down his criticism but still made subtle negative remarks about him during his Friday night show.

The situation has brought more attention to Hegseth’s controversial past. On his show, Kelly mentioned some of the issues linked to Hegseth. These include:

• Adultery: Hegseth admitted to cheating in his marriage.
• Drinking: He has faced accusations of heavy drinking.
• Sexual Assault Allegation: In 2017, a woman accused him of sexual assault. Hegseth claimed the encounter was consensual, and no charges were ever filed. However, he paid the woman, who remains anonymous, to stay silent about the accusation.

These controversies have made people question whether Hegseth is the right choice for the secretary of defense position. While some believe these issues are serious, others argue they are personal matters and shouldn’t affect his nomination.

The fallout from Kelly’s comments created tension inside Newsmax’s newsroom. A photo from their office in New York showed posters with sarcastic questions about whether Hegseth or Kelly was better suited for the secretary of defense role. These posters highlighted the growing divide among staff.

Despite the controversies and backlash, Trump is still standing by Hegseth. He has publicly shown his support and even allowed Hegseth to go on a media tour to defend himself against the accusations. This move suggests Trump is committed to pushing Hegseth’s nomination forward, despite the negative attention.