Pete Hegseth branded 'lowest of the low' in damning in new pollNew CNN analysis shows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is “the lowest of the low” in net approval at minus-22 among Trump officialsView 2 Images A new CNN polling analysis suggests Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has the weakest job approval numbers so far (Image: Getty)A new CNN polling analysis suggests Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has the weakest job approval numbers of any major Trump administration figure measured. Enten said Hegseth stands apart as “the lowest of the low.” Hegseth comes in last at minus-22, a number Enten said has appeared consistently “in every single poll” he could find throughout Hegseth’s time at the Pentagon. The CNN findings land as some high-profile Republicans have sharpened their criticism of Hegseth, while other surveys show his ratings sinking. Senators left Washington last week for the summer recess without moving forward on the $1.5 trillion defense budget presented by Hegseth.