White House Returning to recent news reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses reported his involvement in the second Signal Group Chat, debating the military strike against Yemen as “non-story” but denounced Pentagon staff who were recently fired.
“No matter how many times legacy media attempts to recover the same non-story, we cannot change the fact that the classified information is not shared,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital on Monday morning. “The recently fired ‘lewers’ continue to misrepresent the truth to ease the crushed ego and undermine the president’s agenda, but the administration continues to hold their accountable. ”
Kelly’s response followed Fox News Digital’s inquisition on Sunday about media coverage, reporting that Hixes was part of another signal group chat where his wife, personal lawyer and brother allegedly discussed future military strikes in Yemen. The chat was reportedly created by Heggs, and the New York Times reported on Sunday, saying the four of them were citing their knowledge of chat.
According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the White House is “standing strong” behind Hegseth despite a week of dramatic high-level shootings in addition to signal chat reports.
“The president stands strong behind Secretary Hegses, who is doing an incredible job leading the Pentagon,” Leavitt told Fox News on Monday.
“This is what happens when the entire Pentagon works against you and is opposed to the monumental change you are trying to implement.”
Hegseth also brushed off Signal Chat’s report on Monday, denounced “disgruntled employees” and “anonymous smears.”
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegses has not yet responded to X’s post. (Franco Brana/AFP via Getty Images)
“This is why we’re fighting fake news media,” he said as he pushed a chat from a reporter on the Easter Egg Roll in the White House. “This group here is full of hoaxes.”
Heggs gestured to his wife and children, saying he was there to enjoy the day with them. He spoke to Trump and added that he had planned to continue fighting for the rest of his life.
The Trump administration was scrutinized by Democrats and other critics after Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed in an article published on March 24 that he had been added to the signal group chat with the top. National Security Leader, Including Hegseth, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and CIA director John Ratcliffe discussed upcoming military strikes in Yemen.
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Signal is an encrypted messaging app that works in the same way as texting and making calls, but also includes additional security measures to ensure that communications with what is included in the communication are kept private.
The Atlantic report characterized the Trump administration as a text message on a “war plan” about a planned strike against the Hooty rebels in Yemen.
However, the Trump administration claims that no material classified as chat was sent, and Trump has repeatedly defended the waltz amid fallout. On March 15th, a strike against the rebels unfolded.
President Donald Trump said on April 17, 2025, when he signed an executive order at the White House’s oval office. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Leavitt told media in March that the White House “closed” the Signal Group chat leak case and continued to provide support for the Waltz.
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“The president made it so clear that Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team,” Leavitt told the media in a brief remarks during a gag outside the White House press room.
“There were steps to ensure that something like that clearly wouldn’t happen again,” she continued. “And we are moving forward, and the President, Mike Waltz and his entire national security team have worked together very well.
The Pentagon Vice Chief of Staff is the second Hegseth advisor removed in the DOD leak probe
The second signal chat report involving Hegseth is Last week’s Pentagon Continuing with the leak.
The top aide to Hegzes was placed on leave and escorted from the building as the Pentagon investigated the illicit leak. Senior Advisor Dan Kardwell, Deputy Chief of Staff Darrin Selnick and Colin Carroll Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Feinberg.
On February 24, 2025, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
These three employees had been fired Friday evening, two defense officials confirmed to Fox News Digital, along with staff member Joe Kasper.
Another press, John Ulittt, parted ways with the Pentagon because he didn’t want to be the assistant commander of the telecom shop.
Officials denied that the three men were taken on leave due to foreign policy views and said their position on Iran and Israel is unrelated – despite reports surfaced that President Donald Trump told Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu If Israel attacked Iran, the pentagon would not intervene.
Urie published a scathing opinion piece, particularly on Politico Sunday, where he predicts that Hegus will not remain as Secretary of Defense.
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“It was a month of total disruption at the Pentagon.” He wrote. “From leaking sensitive operational plans to mass firing, dysfunction is a huge distraction for the President right now. He deserves better from a senior leader.”
“Trump has a strong record to explain his top staff,” he wrote. “With that in mind, it’s hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegses staying in his role for so long.”
