U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is once again under fire, but this time for reportedly sharing details about a U.S. military airstrike in Yemen using the private messaging app Signal. The New York Times recently claimed that Hegseth shared sensitive information in a Signal group that included not only close aides but also his wife and brother. The report raised concerns about possible leaks of military operations.
However, Hegseth is calling the entire story false and politically motivated. He spoke out during an interview on “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday, saying this is just another attempt to damage former President Donald Trump’s image and derail his policy goals.
“If you remember, I clearly said before—no one is texting war plans,” Hegseth told host Brian Kilmeade. “I’m inside the Pentagon every day. I know what gets shared and what doesn’t. What went out on Signal was unclassified, basic information for coordinating things like media responses. It wasn’t secret strategy.”
He added that the original reports came from left-wing journalists who had an agenda from the beginning. “It all started with reporters at The Atlantic who were trying to create a problem for President Trump. That’s the real goal here—to go after Trump and his entire agenda,” he said.
Hegseth went further to accuse former employees of leaking stories to protect themselves. He described them as “disgruntled” and said they were twisting facts. Instead of reporting on rumours, Hegseth said the media should focus on bigger stories, such as the U.S. military’s recent success against the Houthis in Yemen, efforts to counter China’s influence, and stronger border defence strategies.
“These stories are not based on how we actually do things here,” he said. “We’re focused on defending this country. We’re supporting our war fighters. We’re standing with the president. And none of these allegations reflect the truth.”
The controversy arises as the Pentagon is already conducting an internal investigation into several leaks. Just last week, three senior officials were put on leave and later fired. Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was reportedly escorted out of the Pentagon building on Wednesday.
He followed Dan Caldwell, a senior advisor to Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff. On Friday night, it was confirmed that all three had been fired.
Speaking on the firings, Hegseth was clear. “If we think someone is leaking information to the press, that’s a big deal. At the Pentagon, we don’t take that lightly,” he said.
He made it clear that his job is not about dealing with the media but about protecting the country. “I’m here to do one job—for the president and for the American people. It’s about putting America first. It’s about peace through strength. I don’t have time for people who leak or for media outlets that publish fake stories based on old drama.”
The situation continues to unfold as further changes occur at the Pentagon. Joe Kasper, who served as Hegseth’s chief of staff, is also leaving, although he’s reportedly moving to another position within the department.
Another key figure, press aide John Ullyot, has also departed. He recently wrote a sharp opinion piece for Politico, where he criticised Hegseth and predicted that he would not last much longer as Secretary of Defence.
Hegseth responded strongly to that piece, saying Ullyot was not being truthful. “Anyone who really knows John knows why he was asked to leave. We helped him a lot. He did some good things early on. But then we had to move him out,” Hegseth explained. “Now he’s trying to change the story. That’s unfortunate. We were fair to him. But he’s playing politics now.”
The story doesn’t end there. Reports suggest that Carroll and Selnick are planning to sue the Department of Defense for wrongful termination. Legal experts say that if the case moves forward, it could reveal more behind-the-scenes details about the internal workings of the Pentagon under Hegseth’s leadership.
For now, Hegseth is standing firm. “We’re focused on the mission,” he said. “We’re focused on national security. These distractions won’t stop us from doing the work the American people expect.”
This is not the first time Hegseth has faced controversy during his tenure, but he continues to insist that the attacks against him are not about the truth—they’re about politics.
As the Pentagon continues its investigation and the legal actions begin to take shape, more developments are expected in the coming weeks.
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