Breaking News:
Donald Trump “stands strongly behind” defense secretary Pete Hegseth, the White House has said, after a Sunday report alleging that he shared sensitive information about planned strikes in Yemen in a private Signal group chat that included his wife and brother.
Trump says: ‘It’s just fake news. They just bring up stories. It sounds like disgruntled employees. He was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people and that’s what he’s doing. You don’t always have friends when you do that.’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing mounting bipartisan criticism and calls for his resignation following revelations that he shared sensitive military information in a second unauthorized Signal messaging group. This group reportedly included his wife, brother, personal lawyer, and senior staff members, none of whom had the necessary security clearances.
The controversy centers around detailed discussions of U.S. military operations, including flight plans and strike timings against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Critics argue that such disclosures, even if not formally classified, could have endangered American service members by providing adversaries with actionable intelligence.
This incident follows a prior scandal where Hegseth and other top officials inadvertently included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal chat discussing similar sensitive operations. The Pentagon’s inspector general has launched an investigation into these breaches, examining compliance with Department of Defense policies and the potential risks posed to national security.
Several lawmakers, including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed, have called for his immediate resignation, citing a failure in leadership and disregard for operational security.
Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic senator from Illinois and combat veteran, put it this way:
“How many times does Pete Hegseth need to leak classified intelligence before Donald Trump and Republicans understand that he isn’t only a f*cking liar, he is a threat to our national security?
“Every day he stays in his job is another day our troops’ lives are endangered by his singular stupidity,” Duckworth said. “He must resign in disgrace.”
The unfolding scandal has led to significant unrest within the Pentagon, with reports of senior staff resignations and a growing sense of dysfunction. Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot described the situation as a “full-blown meltdown,” highlighting the challenges facing the Department of Defense amid these revelations.
As investigations continue, the pressure mounts on Secretary Hegseth to address the breaches and restore confidence in the Pentagon’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive military information.