New Leak Controversy Escalates as Former Pentagon Official Warns of "Meltdown"; Trump Stands by Hegseth<br /><br />A new round of controversy has emerged involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, as reports suggest he may have shared classified military information in a second Signal chat, this time involving family members and close associates. Former President Donald Trump defended Hegseth amid the uproar, attributing the backlash to internal resistance and disgruntled Pentagon staff.<br /><br />Speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, Trump praised Hegseth's efforts, stating, "He’s doing a terrific job... Of course, when you're tasked with cleaning house, you're going to make enemies." He further dismissed the criticism as stemming from "disgruntled employees" unhappy with ongoing reforms.<br /><br />Trump also pointed to recent military actions in Yemen, saying, "Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction there is," referencing successful operations against the militant group.<br /><br />The White House echoed Trump's sentiments, portraying the scandal as a clash between Hegseth’s reform agenda and entrenched bureaucratic opposition within the Pentagon. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented, “When you're trying to bring massive change to a resistant system, this is what it looks like.”<br /><br />Hegseth, while not directly addressing the existence of a second Signal group, attributed the reports to a smear campaign led by former staff and the media. “Is anyone really surprised? Fire a few leakers, and suddenly the media—who sold the Russia hoax for years—starts churning out hit pieces from anonymous sources,” he said.<br /><br />These developments follow a critical op-ed by John Ullyot, who recently stepped down from a brief tenure as Pentagon spokesman. In his piece for Politico, Ullyot described the situation as a "complete breakdown," suggesting it may jeopardize Hegseth’s role at the Department of Defense. He cited internal chaos, operational leaks, and mass dismissals as mounting concerns that distract from the administration’s strategic goals.<br /><br />Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and Army National Guard officer, is facing increased scrutiny due to his lack of senior management experience. He had already drawn criticism for allegedly disclosing details of a planned strike on Houthi targets in a Signal chat that inadvertently included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg.<br /><br />New allegations now claim similar sensitive information was shared in another group, this one including Hegseth’s wife and brother, further fueling national security concerns.
