With 6 children on an official visit to France - Controversy in America, for the Minister of Defense

2026-06-06 21:16:21Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to France with his wife and six children for ceremonies marking the 82nd anniversary of the Normandy landings. The visit, which took place on Friday, has sparked reactions and discussions within the Pentagon due to the impact that the presence of the entire family has on increased security requirements.

According to reports by the "Washington Post", current and former defense officials estimate that accompanying family on an official trip significantly increases the commitment of security personnel, especially in a period of international tension and concerns about the situation in the Middle East.

Upon arrival in Paris, Hegseth is seen disembarking from a US military plane with his family, who were welcomed by French officials on a red carpet.

"I've never seen anything like this before, with the whole family participating in an official trip," said a former official with the US Army's Criminal Investigation Department.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth is personally covering the family's travel costs, but did not provide details on whether this includes additional security costs.

According to former security officials, trips of this level require extensive planning, with additional security teams, risk assessment, and expanded logistics, which significantly increases costs for the state.

A military official told the media that security requirements have increased significantly, adding that this situation has created a burden on the structures responsible for protecting senior American officials.

The discussion takes on even more weight in the context of the State Department's warnings of increased risk when traveling to France, due to potential terrorist threats and the tense global situation.

According to reports, this is not the first time Hegseth's family has accompanied him on official trips, previously raising similar debates over costs and security practices.


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