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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized whistleblowers and the media amid reports that he had used another Signal chat to discuss classified military plans.
Hegseth’s comments were reported by CNN.
The outraged head of the Pentagon stated that the media “spread lies over and over again.”
“They take anonymous sources, disgruntled former employees, and try to slash and burn people and destroy their reputations,” Hegseth said during the Easter “egg roll” at the White House, where he was joined by his children and his wife, who is also in one of the Signal chats.
“That won’t work with me, because we’re transforming the Department of Defense, giving the Pentagon back to the fighters who actually fight. And anonymous smears from disgruntled ex-employees — that’s old news, it doesn’t matter,” he said.
He emphasized that he is “very proud” of what the Pentagon is doing for the president. In response to a question about whether he had spoken with President Donald Trump, Hegseth said that he has the support of the White House chief.
Earlier, it was reported that Pete Hegseth may have shared details of the March attack on Yemeni Houthis in a group Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney. The Pentagon, however, denied this information.
The White House has dismissed any speculation about Hegseth’s possible dismissal following the new Signal scandal.
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