Trump’s defense secretary

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s defense secretary, is under fire after reportedly sharing U.S. military plans in private Signal group chats that included his wife, brother, and lawyer. According to CNN and other outlets, Hegseth discussed airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, ignoring warnings from aides about sharing sensitive information. This follows an earlier leak from another group chat involving Cabinet members. His former press secretary, John Ullyot, described the Pentagon under Hegseth as chaotic, citing ongoing leaks and leadership instability.

Critics, including Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have called for Hegseth’s removal, arguing that he jeopardized national security. Despite backlash, both the White House and Pentagon insist no classified information was shared. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly blamed former staff for distorting facts to harm the administration, while Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized their continued success in supporting Trump’s agenda. The scandal gained further attention after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to one of the group chats, sparking media coverage.