Hegseth Faces Calls to Exit Pentagon Leadership
In a startling development, the White House has quietly initiated a search for a new secretary of defense to succeed Pete Hegseth, according to a senior U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity. The move comes in the wake of revelations that Hegseth shared minute‑by‑minute classified information about U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen via the Signal messaging app on his personal smartphone—a breach that could have endangered pilots and operations.
Hegseth’s “second Signal chat” incident involved two separate group threads. In one chat, he detailed impending strikes to his wife, brother and lawyer. In another, similar operational updates were sent to top White House aides—and accidentally to a journalist—just hours before the strikes commenced. The leaks coincided with reports of Houthi forces downing two American Predator drones.
White House and Pete Hegseth Push Back
Despite mounting pressure, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed talk of a shake‑up. Posting on X, she insisted President Trump “stands strongly” behind Hegseth. “He’s doing a great job—ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump quipped to reporters.
At the White House Easter Egg Roll 2025, Hegseth echoed that defiance. He attacked what he called “media bombshells” peddled by anonymous disgruntled former employees. “They slash and burn reputations,” he said. “It’s not going to work with me.”
Trump’s Easter Message 2025 Targets Biden, “Radical Left Lunatics” and the Courts
Pentagon Exodus and Infighting
The controversy deepened as four senior Pentagon advisers departed under acrimonious circumstances:
- John Ullyot, the Defense Department spokesperson, resigned and described a “full‑blown meltdown” of infighting in a Politico opinion.
- Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick were escorted out, accused of leaking. The trio called their dismissal “unconscionable” in an X statement, pointing out none were told what they allegedly leaked.
Caldwell and Selnick, long‑time associates of Hegseth from Concerned Veterans for America, underscored the internal rift. Their exits—and Ullyot’s critique—have fueled Hegseth news coverage across outlets from NBC News to MSNBC News.
What We Know About FSU Shooting Suspect Phoenix Eichner
Bipartisan Backlash Grows
Notably, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, urged Hegseth to take responsibility. She reminded voters that ultimate accountability rests with President Trump for appointing a former weekend TV host—with no experience managing a vast bureaucracy—to lead the Pentagon and make “life and death decisions” for U.S. forces.
Josh Shapiro Escapes PA Governor’s Mansion Fire: Suspect Cody Balmer Arrested
What Comes Next
With rumors swirling that the White House is interviewing potential successors, the future of Hegseth’s tenure hangs in the balance. Observers will watch for:
- Official nominations: Who will emerge as the frontrunner to replace Hegseth as secretary of defense?
- Congressional response: Will hearings probe the Hegseth Signal leaks and the abrupt adviser departures?
- Operational security reforms: Can the Pentagon shore up communication protocols to prevent another classified‑information breach?
As the saga unfolds, Pete Hegseth remains defiant, but the mounting controversies—from the second Signal chat to the adviser exodus—suggest his hold on the Pentagon may be slipping.
📢 Follow TNN for the latest updates on U.S. and Canada news, business, tech, politics, sports, and more, including everything about pete hegseth! 🚨
2 thoughts on “White House Weighs Replacement for Pete Hegseth Amid Signal Chat Leak”