Trump should have dumped the ultra-Neocon Mike Waltz during the first attack on Hegseth, rather than just sending him into the Rubber Room, never to be seen again (at least for now).
By dumping Waltz, Trump would have shown the Deep State that he’s on to them, and will take THEIR PEOPLE out (even if installed by Trump, as was the case with Waltz) when they (the Deep State) decides to target MAGA.
I think Trump is doing fine - he knows Hegseth is being attacked because he scares the Deep State - by allowing Hegseth to handle it, he’s showing that neither of them are afraid of the Deep State...