Trump called Hergessex an excellent work critical of what the media had previously reported as "fouling."

ON 7 AUGUST, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, TRUMP, STATED IN SOCIAL MEDIA: “THE FALSE MEDIA CONTINUE TO SPREAD FALSE AND TOTALLY UNFOUNDED RUMOURS. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE WORK OF THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. EVERYTHING HE DID WAS EXCELLENT. THE SITUATION ON THE IRANIAN SIDE HAS ALSO PROCEEDED WELL. WE HAVE WEAKENED THAT COUNTRY ' S STRENGTH WITH THE AIM OF NEVER ALLOWING IT TO POSSESS NUCLEAR WEAPONS. HEGESSETS IS HIGHLY RESPECTED WITHIN THE MILITARY AND HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE ABOLITION OF THE POLICY OF PLURALISM, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DII) AND THE RAISING OF RECRUITMENT TO HISTORICAL LEVELS. THIS RUMOUR ORIGINATED IN THE WASHINGTON POST, ONE OF THE WORST MEDIA OUTLETS IN THE INDUSTRY. I REALLY THINK THIS FALSE "REPORT" IS TREASON."