Trump Stands Firm Behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Amid Signal Chat Leak Controversy
As political pressure mounts over a series of leaked Signal messages involving military operations, President Donald J. Trump is making it clear: he’s not backing down — and neither is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
At a high-profile Easter Egg Roll event on the White House lawn, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he still had confidence in Hegseth following a wave of leaked chats and internal firings at the Pentagon. His answer was classic Trump — unflinching and direct.
“It’s just fake news,” the president replied. “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.”
Trump then delivered a sharp zinger to emphasize his point:
“He is doing a great job… Ask the Houthis how he’s doing.”
Leaks, Firings, and Fallout at the Pentagon
The controversy centers on allegations that sensitive military information — including flight plans and strike details related to operations in Yemen — were shared in private Signal group chats by Secretary Hegseth. The chats allegedly included individuals not directly involved in operational planning, such as Hegseth’s wife and personal lawyer.
In response, the Department of Defense took swift action:
- Dan Caldwell, a senior advisor linked to the Signal group, was escorted from the Pentagon.
- Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s Chief of Staff, resigned his position amid the fallout.
- Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, senior aides within the Department, were also placed on leave and later terminated.
According to Politico, both Selnick and Carroll plan to file wrongful termination lawsuits, citing political motivations and a lack of due process.
Hegseth Defends His Record
From the White House podium on Monday, Pete Hegseth launched a full-throated defense, blasting what he described as media retaliation for rooting out leakers and reforming a corrupt bureaucracy.
“What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax,” Hegseth said.
“They got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies, and they won’t give them back.”
He continued:
“This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations.”
Hegseth also reaffirmed his alignment with Trump:
“We’re on the same page all the way.”
White House Response: Unified and Unshaken
Despite attempts by NPR and other left-wing outlets to cast Hegseth as embattled or replaceable, the White House remains united. Sources close to the administration view the leaks and the resulting backlash as an orchestrated hit by entrenched bureaucrats and legacy media.
“He’s there to clean house,” said one senior administration official. “That’s exactly why the knives are out.”
Conclusion: The Hegseth Doctrine Holds
For now, President Trump is doubling down on his defense chief. With escalating tensions overseas and renewed strikes on Houthi terrorist targets, Trump and Hegseth are positioning themselves as the team America can count on — focused, decisive, and unfazed by media-driven controversy.
As Trump put it: “Ask the Houthis how he’s doing.”