Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out on the media and “disgruntled former employees” Monday as he finds himself embroiled in recent controversy over his sharing of delicate data and his administration of the Pentagon.
Hegseth was defiant in remarks to reporters on the White Home for the annual Easter Egg Roll, dismissing new reporting a couple of second Sign app chat wherein he shared details about strikes in Yemen and telling reporters he and President Trump are “on the same page all the way.”
“What a giant shock that just a few leakers get fired and all of a sudden a bunch of hit items come out from the identical media that peddled the Russia hoax,” Hegseth stated, responding to new reporting from The New York Occasions.
“This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,” Hegseth continued. “Not going to work with me, because we’re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war-fighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn’t matter. So I’m happy to be here at the Easter Egg Roll with my dad and my kids.”
Requested if he had spoken to the president, Hegseth stated he had.
“And we are going to continue fighting. On the same page all the way,” Hegseth stated.
The New York Occasions reported late Sunday that Hegseth shared delicate details about deliberate strikes in Yemen in a non-public chat on the Sign app that included his spouse, his brother and his private lawyer.
Information of the second chat got here roughly a month after the editor in chief of The Atlantic detailed how he was mistakenly added to a bunch chat of administration officers to debate plans for army strikes on the Houthis. Whereas nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz took accountability for that chat, Hegseth shared particulars about deliberate strikes within the dialogue.
Administration officers have insisted there was no labeled data shared in both chat.
Additionally Sunday, Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who just lately left the division, penned an opinion piece for Politico wherein he wrote, “the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership.” There was a wave of departures of high officers in latest days amid a probe for leaks.
Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox Information host, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in January. Vice President Vance needed to break a tie to solidify his affirmation.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters earlier Monday that the president “absolutely has confidence” in Hegseth.
“I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands strongly behind him,” Leavitt stated.
Up to date at 10:17 a.m. EDT
