Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly defended himself Monday against media reports alleging that he mishandled sensitive information, calling the coverage the product of “disgruntled former employees” and “anonymous smear campaigns” aimed at his leadership at the Pentagon.
Speaking to reporters during the White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth addressed claims that he participated in a second encrypted Signal group chat in which classified details of U.S. operations in Yemen were allegedly discussed. He insisted the reports were false and stressed that he remains fully aligned with President Donald Trump on defense policy and national-security strategy. “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, referencing a recent report by The New York Times.
He accused journalists of relying on anonymous sources and former staff who have an axe to grind, stating: “This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and try to slash and burn people’s reputations… We’re reforming the Defense Department and putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war-fighters. Anonymous smears from people who used to work here don’t matter.”
Accompanied by his father and children, Hegseth appeared composed and even upbeat at the event, saying he was “happy to be here … with my dad and my kids.” When asked whether he had spoken with the president about the allegations, Hegseth replied, “Yes—and we are going to continue fighting. We’re on the same page all the way.”
At the same time, the White House dismissed a separate report from NPR that claimed the administration was scouting replacements for Hegseth. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “total FAKE NEWS based on one anonymous source,” adding that the president “stands strongly behind” Hegseth.
Background: Signal Chat Controversy
The controversy originates from encrypted-messaging chats hosted by the Trump administration. In March 2025, Hegseth was implicated in a Signal group chat in which details of airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi militants were allegedly shared. A later report by the Associated Press confirmed a second chat which included Hegseth’s wife, brother, and others—raising further concerns about operational security and compliance with classification rules.
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President Trump has repeatedly defended Hegseth, calling the controversy politically motivated and insisting no classified information was compromised. “Hegseth is doing a great job,” Trump told reporters. He added that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz had accepted responsibility for one of the chat slips, saying: “It was Mike … that’s what I was told.”
Looking Ahead
The incident has renewed debate over how modern administrations coordinate sensitive military operations and whether basic classification protocols have been compromised. Meanwhile, Hegseth and the White House are projecting unity and resilience, with the secretary declaring: “We’re changing the Defense Department — and no amount of anonymous smears is going to stop that.”