Pete Hegseth has likely been on your social media feeds lately, and there’s a pretty good reason why. As the current Defense Secretary, he has made some questionable decisions and choices regarding his communication methods, and it has reached the point where many of today’s politicians are wondering if he is capable of keeping his job for much longer.
The former Army National Guard officer is facing intense scrutiny and judgment not only from American citizens but also from fellow politicians, including congress members and former presidential candidates, after it was reported that he sent sensitive military information via the messaging app Signal in a new group chat consisting of family members. It has caused quite a stir in Washington, D.C., and has people wondering if he is fit to hold the important position. Read more about the incident below.
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Pete Hegseth Was Accused Of Sending Sensitive Military Information To His Family Via 'Signal'
Signal is an encrypted messaging app that markets itself as extra safe, given that it's technology protects any messages or conversations from being intercepted. The appeal of the app is that if a Signal user's phone were hacked, it allegedly will continue to protect any messages, images, or other files sent.
Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faced public backlash after a reporter was accidentally added to a Signal group chat consisting of him, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and several high-ranking officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The chat was named "Houthi PC small group," and in it, Hegseth sent several messages detailing important details related to military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Although officials from the Pentagon claimed that no classified information was shared in the messages, it still raised many eyebrows across the country, as revealing so many military details in a more casual online setting was unusual.
This weekend, several sources revealed to media outlets like the New York Times, that there was allegedly another group chat on Signal used by Hegseth named "Defense|Team Huddle." Sources claimed that the chat was used to send additional information regarding the targeting the Houthi rebels in Yemen and allegedly contained messages about air craft "attack plans."
Insider sources told the New York Times that the former television personality reportedly accessed this chat from a private phone, rather than his government-issued one, and that it included more personal people in his life, in addition to more officials, including his wife, producer Jennifer Rauchet, his brother, and his lawyer. The reports have generated numerous figures in Washington, D.C., and other citizens are deeply concerned.
Several politicians have taken to the internet to voice their thoughts on Pete being "dysfunctional" and how they believe the situation has led to a "meltdown" at the Pentagon.
Politicians Call Pete An 'Amateur' And Claim He's 'Unfit' In Statements and Social Media Posts
Since reports of his additional Signal group chat broke, several political figures have made statements scrutinizing the Defense Secretary, who was nominated by President Donald J. Trump earlier this year, stating that he is 'unfit' for the job and calling for his removal from the crucial position.
"Dysfunction and turmoil at the Pentagon have reached absurd levels," wrote Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan on X, referring to the latest "Signalgate" scandal.
"Pete Hegseth is clearly ill-equipped to handle the role of Secretary of Defense," added Senator Cory Booker to the platform.
"His repeated failure to follow basic operational security procedures jeopardizes the safety and security of our armed forces. He should resign."
"The Secretary is unfit to lead," posted the former Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg.
On April 21st, a Republican Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska, stated that he believed Hegseth's actions were "unacceptable" and called upon the President to fire him.
"I find it unacceptable, and I wouldn't tolerate it if I was in charge," he said in an interview. "He's acting like he's above the law — and that shows an amateur person. It looks like there's a meltdown going on."
Later that day, President Trump defended Hegseth, and stated he believed he was doing a "great job," despite the news of the messages. We'll be curious to see how the situation unfolds, with the president siding with the former Fox News member and numerous politicians against him.
