WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday brought his top administration officials and department heads together at the White House for the ninth Cabinet meeting of his second term and what he declared will be his final one of 2025.

The televised convenings of such officials – seen seated at a table with the president in the Cabinet Room – have become a staple of Trump’s second term and often run the gambit of topics as each member gets a turn to give an update on developments in their respective departments.

But this time, it came as all eyes are on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following an explosive report saying he gave a directive to “kill everybody” on board a vessel that the Trump administration struck in early September.

The attack marked the start of the administration'

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