Secretary Hegseth Holds Onto White House Support Despite Group Chat Scandal and Mounting Drama

The White House is sticking by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as he weathers a fresh storm of controversy over leaked group chats and rumors of impending ouster. The latest trouble began with reports that Hegseth shared details of a March military airstrike in Yemen with a small group that included family, his lawyer, and advisors via the Signal app—before his confirmation as defense secretary. Hegseth insists there was no classified info in play, just routine chatter. Still, 'group chat' is probably not the phrase you want trending next to your name if you're running the Pentagon.

This isn’t the first time high-level Signal chats have caused headaches. Back in March, a similar chat included Vice President JD Vance and Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, all hashing out the Houthi strike saga. National security advisor Mike Waltz eventually took the blame for that slip-up, but the drama clearly didn’t end there.

The White House, for its part, is calling foul on what it describes as a "smear campaign" against Hegseth ever since Trump picked him for the top defense post last December. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Hegseth for bringing "monumental change" to the Pentagon and insisted the president's support is unwavering, regardless of media storms or anonymous sources chattering to NPR. As Leavitt put it, "the results he's achieved thus far speak for themselves."

But Hegseth’s ride hasn’t been smooth. He’s faced allegations of sexual assault and alcohol misuse since his nomination, and told lawmakers he’s “not a perfect person” but the target of a coordinated media hit job. Not a single Democrat voted for his confirmation—a stark contrast to the near-unanimous support Trump’s first defense secretary, Jim Mattis, received back in 2016.

Hegseth has led efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the Pentagon, moves he says are just following Trump’s executive orders. Those moves have only stoked the fire among critics, who see dysfunction and chaos under his leadership. In the latest twist, three of Hegseth’s most loyal advisors were abruptly fired last Friday, leaving even allies scratching their heads. John Ullyot, a former top Pentagon communications official, called the firings "baffling" and warned they’ve become a "major distraction" for the president.

Despite the White House’s public show of confidence, some in Hegseth’s circle are betting his days are numbered. And the chorus of calls for his resignation is getting louder, especially from Senate Democrats. Jack Reed, the Senate Armed Services Committee’s ranking Democrat, has asked for an inspector general’s investigation into Hegseth’s Signal chat habits, citing concerns about his "experience, competence, and character." Reed didn’t mince words, blaming "ongoing chaos, dysfunction, and mass firings" on Hegseth’s watch.

Hegseth, meanwhile, remains defiant. He told reporters, "nobody is texting war plans," and described the group chats as unclassified, informal coordination. His brother Phil, a Pentagon advisor, and longtime attorney Tim Parlatore were among those in the chats, but Hegseth insists it was all above board. There’s no doubt the Pentagon is buzzing, but for now, the White House isn’t budging. Whether that loyalty lasts is another story—and in D.C., loyalty can sometimes be as fleeting as a Signal message.