On Monday morning, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confronted a media storm head-on, vigorously refuting allegations that he shared classified details about a Yemen strike in a private Signal chat with family members.
As detailed by , the controversy arose following the dismissal of three former Pentagon officials—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—over unauthorized leaks. This backdrop set the stage for a New York Times article, featuring claims from four anonymous sources, which suggested that Hegseth had leaked sensitive information.
In a decisive response, the Pentagon categorically denied these accusations, with Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell denouncing the report as “fake news,” attributing it to disgruntled former employees with ulterior motives aimed at undermining Hegseth and the Trump administration’s objectives.
The Times article alleged that Hegseth had disclosed specifics of a March 15 strike in a Signal group chat dubbed “Defense | Team Huddle,” which included his wife, Jennifer, brother, Phil, and personal lawyer, Tim Parlatore.
Pentagon Denies New York Times Report with Anonymous Sources Accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of Leaking Yemen Strike Details in Second Private Signal Chat with Wife, Brother, and Lawyer
During the White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth was asked about these claims. He criticized the reporters, labeling them as “hoaxters peddling anonymous sources,” and suggested that their information typically emanates from “disgruntled former employees” aiming to tarnish reputations.
He further challenged the media’s credibility, recalling their previous promotion of the Russia Hoax and their unreturned Pulitzer Prizes for what he termed “dishonest reporting.”
This confrontation seemed to provoke a buzz among the White House press corps, with murmurs about a potential “altercation” between Hegseth and a reporter.
Reporter: Is there anything you want to say, sir, about the Signal chat controversy?Hegseth: Well, isn’t it interesting how, right after a few leakers are fired, a slew of hit pieces about me emerge from the very media outlets that pushed the Russia Hoax and have yet to return their Pulitzers?
They received Pulitzers for a cascade of fabrications! Time and again, they’ve spun hoaxes, and no one holds them accountable. This is standard media practice—they take whispers from disgruntled ex-employees and try to destroy individuals’ reputations.
But let me clarify, none of this will deter me. We’re reforming the Defense Department, restoring its leadership to those who fight wars, and these anonymous smears from former employees over outdated news are irrelevant. I’m excited to be here at the Easter Egg Roll with my dad and kids because that’s what matters—our children’s future.
This is why we’re standing up against the fake news media, why we’re resisting the slash-and-burn tactics of Democrats, and why we’re combating hoaxsters. This group right here—full of hoaxsters that regurgitate hearsay from leakers—tries to package it as legitimate news. But we know better. I take pride in our efforts for the President, working diligently across the board. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Easter eggs to roll with my kids.
