President Donald Trump continues to support his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, amid rising concerns over Hegseth’s use of the Signal app for discussing classified military operations with unauthorized people, according to reports from AFP.
It has come to light that Hegseth shared sensitive information about U.S. airstrikes in Yemen, including schedules for warplanes, within a private Signal group that included family members, such as his wife, brother, and his attorney. Some individuals in the group hold positions within the Pentagon, while others, including journalists, do not have the necessary clearance for these discussions.
Trump dismissed the controversy as “fake news” and praised Hegseth for his performance, despite the incident coming on the heels of a previous leak where a journalist was mistakenly added to a Signal chat regarding the same airstrikes.
Critics, particularly from the Democratic party, are calling for Hegseth’s resignation. Representative Jim McGovern labeled him “a walking national security disaster,” while Senator Elissa Slotkin urged him to take responsibility and resign. The Pentagon’s inspector general has launched an inquiry into the matter.
In response, Hegseth has shifted the blame to the media and former Pentagon staff for the leaks. Meanwhile, several former advisors and officials who were recently let go assert that they were unfairly targeted.
Despite rumors suggesting that the White House is considering possible replacements for Hegseth, Trump’s team has labeled these claims as “fake news,” characterizing them as baseless. Nevertheless, internal discord within the Pentagon appears to be escalating.
