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U.S. President Donald Trump said Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, who led the Pentagon's directorate of Strategy, Plans and Policy, was dismissed for leaking classified information from the Defense Department. Trump said Sylvia would face serious and long-term consequences.

Speaking to reporters as he left Washington for a Republican rally in South Carolina ahead of the congressional midterm elections on November 3, Trump also criticized Democrats over Pete Hegseth, rejected concerns about Muslim voters and commented on the elections in Brazil.

Leak allegations against Sylvia

Asked about reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had removed Sylvia from the post, Trump said, "Lieutenant General Sylvia leaked classified information at the Pentagon. He is in trouble."

Trump said the Pentagon official would face "very big problems," adding: "We are going after the people who leak information, and he is going to face very big problems. Long-term problems as well."

Defense of Hegseth

Trump called it "horrible" that Democrats in the U.S. Congress were working to remove Hegseth from office in the expectation of winning a majority in the midterm elections. "All they talk about is firing everyone," he said. "So honestly, if we wanted to play that game, we could play it at least as well as they could."

Trump praised the defense secretary, saying: "He is doing a wonderful job. He is a real fighter. I think he has done the best job in many years, and a lot of people agree with that."

Remarks on Muslim voters

Trump said he did not believe he would lose the support of Muslim voters after mocking the name of Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim candidate running for a Senate seat from Michigan in the midterm elections, and indirectly making fun of El-Sayed's faith. "I am doing very well with Arab voters," Trump said. "I will put it this way: I won Michigan by a large margin and I got the votes of Arab voters too."

Comments on Brazil

Trump said he had not taken sides in the elections in Brazil but added, "When I see what has happened in Brazil, I can say it is a disgrace." Referring to market conditions in the country, Trump said, "Look at the markets; the markets have basically collapsed," calling the situation "extremely embarrassing" for the South American country.

Trump also said he would call Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won Brazil's presidential election.

Key takeaways

• Trump said Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia leaked classified Pentagon information and was dismissed.
• Trump predicted Sylvia would face serious, long-term consequences and said the administration is going after leakers.
• Trump rejected concerns about losing Muslim voters after his remarks about Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.
• Trump said he would call Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after Brazil's presidential election and criticized developments there.