White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday that President Donald Trump has full confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, pushing back against a New York Times report accusing Hegseth of improperly discussing sensitive military information in a private Signal group chat.
“The President absolutely has confidence in Secretary Hegseth. I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands strongly behind him,” Leavitt told Fox News.
The Times article, which relied entirely on anonymous sources—allegedly disgruntled former Pentagon officials—claims that Hegseth shared classified details about planned U.S. strikes in Yemen with his wife, brother, and personal attorney through a group chat named “Defense | Team Huddle.”
Pentagon Fires Back
The Pentagon has issued an emphatic denial. Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell condemned the article as “fake news,” asserting that the allegations are part of a coordinated smear campaign fueled by individuals recently dismissed for misconduct.
“This time, the New York Times — and all other Fake News that repeat their garbage — are enthusiastically taking the grievances of disgruntled former employees as the sole sources for their article,” Parnell stated. “They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President’s agenda.”
Political Blowback Begins
The Democratic Party’s official X account responded to the report by calling for Hegseth’s ouster, stating plainly:
“[Hegseth] needs to go.”
Despite this political pressure, the White House remains united behind Hegseth. Trump allies see the story as a recycled smear tactic, weaponized by anti-Trump media outlets to derail a Defense Secretary who has aggressively implemented a “war fighter-first” agenda at the Pentagon.
Hegseth Fires Back
Earlier in the day, Hegseth publicly denounced the report as a “hit piece” from the same media that pushed the Russia hoax, calling the journalists behind the piece “hoaxters” and blasting their reliance on anonymous sources. He reaffirmed his commitment to restoring the Defense Department’s integrity and pushing forward with the Trump administration’s national security priorities.
“This is what we’re fighting—fake news and smear campaigns designed to derail our mission,” he said during remarks at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Bottom Line
As the media firestorm builds, the Trump administration is standing firm, rejecting the narrative of classified leaks and doubling down on support for one of the President’s most loyal cabinet officials. With Trump himself personally reaffirming confidence in Hegseth, this appears to be yet another battle line drawn between the administration and the media establishment ahead of a pivotal election year.
