After delivering brief remarks, Trump took a few questions from reporters in the room. Several of the initial questions were about the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the war between Russia and Ukraine, the recent U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facility, and the deadly flooding in Texas.

“Do you know about this, Pete?” Trump whispered as the reporter kept speaking. “John might know,” Hegseth replied, referring to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. “I’d ask John, maybe, to discuss it, if you’d like,” Trump told the reporter. “John?”