Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a tacit acknowledgment of support for Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, despite criticism of him prior to his appointment to the position.

Brown met Hegseth outside the Pentagon’s river entrance on Monday morning for the secretary’s first official arrival to the building and briefly spoke to reporters. When asked if Hegseth believes Brown should be fired, he said, “I’m standing with him right now [and] look forward to working with him.”