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Trump World Circles Wagons On Hegseth Amid New Scandal

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The Big Story 

Trump world circles wagons on Hegseth amid new scandal

Trump World is playing defense amid mounting criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after new revelations that he shared sensitive military information with family members.

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Hegseth lashed out at the media and what he claimed were “disgruntled former employees” Monday for the chorus of criticism for his handling of battle plans on a Signal group chat.

 

The Department of Defense also saw a series of high-profile suspensions in recent days over an internal investigation into leaks, and a former top spokesperson penned an op-ed Sunday saying chaos reigns at the Pentagon under Hegseth. 

 

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, on Monday became the first Republican to suggest Hegseth is not fit to lead the Pentagon.

 

“If it’s true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family, about the missions against the Houthis, it’s totally unacceptable,” Bacon said.

 

“I’m not in the White House, and I’m not going to tell the White House how to manage this … but I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn’t tolerate it if I was in charge,” he added.

 

But even with the surge of damning headlines, President Trump on Monday publicly backed Hegseth, who he claimed is “doing a great job.”

 

“There’s no dysfunction at all,” Trump told reporters at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt denied a report from NPR that the administration had started the process of searching for a new Defense secretary. 

 

Hegseth also appeared defiant, telling reporters that he and Trump spoke and are “on the same page all the way.”

 

The Trump administration’s combat mode over Hegseth mirrors the stance it took last month after the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic revealed he had been included in a Signal group chat with more than a dozen top Trump administration officials. 

 

Since then, White House officials have remained adamant about sticking by Hegseth, even as criticism has mounted in recent weeks and questions about his judgment have resurfaced.

 

The wider concerns were amplified in an op-ed penned by former top Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, p-blished in Politico Magazine on Sunday, in which he warned of “total chaos” in the building over the past month. 

 

Read the full report at TheHill.com.

 

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Essential Reads 

How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:

 

Senate Republicans are experiencing a new case of heartburn over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a spate of Pentagon staff firings in recent weeks and the emergence of a second Signal chat reportedly detailing attack plans in a month’s time.  Hegseth once again found himself squarely in the spotlight over the past week after a trio of top aides were fired from the Defense Department amid a leak investigation.  …

 

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) stopped just short of calling on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be removed Monday following a new report that alleges the secretary shared detailed military plans in a group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer. “If it’s true that he had another [Signal] chat with his family about the missions against the Houthis, it’s totally unacceptable,” Bacon told Politico, adding, “I’m not …

 

President Trump on Monday defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid new reporting about a Signal app chat and criticism from former Pentagon officials. “He is doing a great job. … Ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump told reporters on the south lawn of the White House during the annual Easter Egg Roll. Trump touted strong military recruitment numbers under Hegseth and waved off the latest controversies. “It’s …

 

On Our Radar 

Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: 

  • The annual joint Balikatan war games between American and Filipino forces began today and will run until May 9 in the Philippines.
  • Vice President Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in New Delhi as part of a four-day visit to the country. 
 
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On Tap Tomorrow 

Events in and around the defense world: 

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Opinions in The Hill 

Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:

 
 

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