United States President Donald Trump has come to the defence of his Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, following reports that the Pentagon boss shared sensitive military information in a second private Signal chat. According to recent disclosures, Hegseth is said to have discussed plans for bombing operations in Yemen within a group that included not only his wife and brother but also his personal legal advisor. Despite the uproar, Trump was quick to brush off the matter, calling it “just a waste of time.”
The incident marks the second time in recent weeks that Hegseth has faced scrutiny over his use of messaging platforms to discuss military strategy. Just last month, he was criticised for mistakenly including a media executive—the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic—in a group chat where classified air strike plans against Houthi rebels were shared. The recurrence of such leaks has triggered renewed concern about leadership and confidentiality protocols within the Pentagon.
Trump, however, remained resolute in his support. Speaking from the White House, the president dismissed the concerns with characteristic defiance, stating that Hegseth was doing a “great job” and pointing out that critics should rather “ask the Houthis” about the effectiveness of the defence chief’s strategy. He further suggested that the controversy was being stirred by former aides with personal grievances, hinting that they were merely “disgruntled employees.”
Hegseth, a former Fox News presenter and military officer in the US Army National Guard, was appointed to his current role with a mandate to reform and streamline Pentagon operations. However, this push for change has reportedly led to tension within the department. Several senior officials have either resigned or been dismissed, including John Ullyot, a former press secretary at the Department of Defense, who has been vocal in his criticism. In a recent opinion piece, Ullyot described the current state of the Pentagon as one of “disarray” and “total chaos.”
President Trump responded to these remarks by defending his defence secretary’s leadership style. He argued that strong reform often comes with opposition and maintained that Hegseth was simply doing the job he was appointed to do—cleaning up an institution that he claims had too many “bad people.” In his words, “You don’t always have friends when you do that.”
Despite the mounting pressure, there appears to be no indication of any immediate action against Hegseth. Trump, known for his loyalty to close allies, reaffirmed that he had no plans to remove the defence secretary from office. For now, the administration continues to downplay the implications of the alleged leaks while shifting focus to internal Pentagon reforms.
The episode has sparked wide interest across international political and security circles, especially as it comes at a time when tensions in the Middle East remain high. As more eyes turn towards Washington for clarity, the spotlight remains firmly on the dynamics within the Trump administration and the decisions shaping its defence leadership.
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