WASHINGTON (AP)—The White House is expressing support for Pete Hegseth following media reports that the defense secretary created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where sensitive military information was shared.
The New York Times first reported Sunday evening that the embattled Pentagon leader shared details of a March military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants that were similar to those sent in another chain with top Trump administration leaders. A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump “stands strongly behind” Hegseth. She tried to dismiss the reporting by saying “this is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you.”
Hegseth told reporters Monday that he had spoken with the president and “we are going to continue fighting.”
“This is what the media does,” Pete Hegseth said at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
“They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me.”
Hegseth did not deny the reports.
“I have spoken to the president, and we are going to continue fighting, on the same page all the way,” he said.
The president offered full-throated backing of his defense secretary following media reports that Hegseth shared sensitive military details in another Signal messaging chat, including with his wife and brother.
Asked by reporters if he still had confidence in Hegseth amid the latest revelations, Trump responded the media should pose that question to the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, who have been facing a barrage of U.S. airstrikes in recent weeks.
“Ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump said. He added, “Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction...There is none.”
Trump also appeared to blame recently dismissed Pentagon aides for being behind the reports.