Trump hates US trade deficits, loves US tariffs and is mostly indifferent, if not hostile, toward multilateral arrangements including ASEAN.

It is no surprise that a top member of the Trump administration, like Hegseth, faces concerns, as there have been worries that the boss himself may not be keen on Southeast Asia.

Pete Hegseth’s inexperience could put troops’ lives in danger, warned the combat veteran who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee.