The U.S. Secretary of Defense under Donald Trump has reportedly shared confidential military plans with a private group chat that includes several family members, such as his wife and brother.
Pete Hegseth, selected by President Trump to lead the Pentagon, has faced significant criticism since his appointment. His tenure has been marred by various controversies.
Hegseth has been accused of several misconducts, including sexual assault and workplace drinking, all of which he has denied.
Recently, CNN reported that he initiated a second Signal group chat to discuss military operations against the Houthis in Yemen.
This incident follows another leak involving a group chat used by Hegseth to discuss military plans with Cabinet officials last month.
The New York Times initially reported that over a dozen individuals, including Hegseth’s lawyer, wife, and brother, were part of the second chat.
According to Reuters, details of planned airstrikes were shared in the private chat, despite warnings from an aide, as mentioned by NBC News.
Concerns about Hegseth’s judgment have been raised by some of his aides, including former press secretary John Ullyot.
In a statement to CNN, Ullyot remarked: “It’s been a month of total chaos at the Pentagon. From leaks of sensitive operational plans to mass firings, the dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president — who deserves better from his senior leadership.”
The Atlantic’s journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in the first chat by national security adviser Mike Waltz, leading to reports on the defense secretary.
In reaction to the leaked chat details, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly stated: “No matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same non-story, they can’t change the fact that no classified information was shared.
“Recently-fired ‘leakers’ are continuing to misrepresent the truth to soothe their shattered egos and undermine the President’s agenda, but the administration will continue to hold them accountable.”
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell commented: “There was no classified information in any Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story. What is true is that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is continuing to become stronger and more efficient in executing President Trump’s agenda.
“We’ve already achieved so much for the American warfighter, and will never back down.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, has urged Trump to dismiss the defense secretary, citing the risk posed to lives.