Hegseth skips Israel visit to join Trump’s Middle East trip, Pentagon confirms

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has not cancelled his planned visit to Israel, contrary to earlier reports, Assistant to the Secretary of Defence for Public Affairs Sean Parnell said.

According to him, Hegseth was invited to join President Trump's upcoming Middle East trip and is "honoured" to do so.

“Secretary Hegseth did not cancel his trip to Israel. He was asked to join President Trump’s Middle East trip next week & is honoured to do so. SECDEF very much looks forward to visiting our ally Israel soon,” Parnell wrote on X, Caliber.Az reports.

This statement comes after The Jerusalem Post cited a source claiming that Hegseth had cancelled his planned visit to Israel next week. 

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.

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 trip with Trump, which begins May 13 and includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, signals that the commander-in-chief continues to support Hegseth even amid controversy. 

By Sabina Mammadli