As Trump edges toward war with Iran, his ‘secretary of war’ is dangling from a palm tree in flip-flops with Dr. Oz

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was spotted enjoying a beachside brunch in Palm Beach with Dr. Mehmet Oz this week, even as reports suggest President Trump is close to launching a major military strike against Iran. Dr. Oz, who serves as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) chief, posted about the meetup on social media

He wrote on X: “Secretary Pete Hegseth visited us for a beachside brunch. He can turn a leisurely afternoon into a MAHA extravaganza with tree pull-ups, a cold plunge, and a Mediterranean feast!” According to The Daily Beast, the photos Oz shared show Hegseth, 45, and Oz, 65, both visibly suntanned, dipping their hands into a tub of water. 

Another photo shows Hegseth, who now insists on being called the “secretary of war”, dangling from a palm tree in flip-flops, while a shorts-clad Oz stands nearby. A third photo shows a large meat-free spread of Mediterranean dips, seemingly taken at Oz’s Palm Beach home.

A possible U.S. war with Iran could hurt Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections

Meanwhile, sources reveal that President Trump, 79, is growing increasingly frustrated with the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran and may follow through on his threats to launch a wide-scale military operation. One Trump adviser told Axios, “The boss is getting fed up. Some people around him warn him against going to war with Iran, but I think there is 90 percent chance we see kinetic action in the next few weeks.”

Trump made his position clear last week, telling Axios, “Either we will make a deal or we will have to do something very tough like last time.” A U.S. entry into a potentially unpopular war in the Middle East could also hurt the Republican Party in November’s midterm elections, where they already face predictions of significant electoral losses.

While Hegseth was at the beach, diplomatic efforts were still underway elsewhere. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, a former real estate developer with no prior diplomatic experience, and Jared Kushner, who is married to the president’s daughter Ivanka, led the U.S. delegation in nuclear deal negotiations with Iran in Geneva on Tuesday.

Dr. Oz, the host of the Palm Beach gathering, has faced controversies of his own. Emails revealed that Dr. Oz invited Jeffrey Epstein to a Valentine’s Party at his 10-bedroom mansion in 2016, years after Epstein had already been convicted as a sex offender. This was revealed in files released by the Department of Justice related to the investigation into the disgraced financier.

Hegseth himself has also been a controversial figure since taking office. His decision to refer to himself as the “secretary of war” rather than the traditional “secretary of defense” has drawn attention, and his tenure has been marked by ongoing scrutiny over his qualifications and conduct in the role.