Hegseth blasts media, ‘disgruntled former employees’ over latest Signal controversy

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at the media and “disgruntled former employees” Monday as he finds himself embroiled in fresh controversy over his sharing of sensitive information and his management of the Pentagon.

Hegseth was defiant in remarks to reporters at the White House for the annual Easter Egg Roll, dismissing new reporting about a second Signal app chat in which he shared information about strikes in Yemen and telling reporters he and President Trump are “on the same page all the way.”

“What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax,” Hegseth said, responding to new reporting from The New York Times.

“This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,” Hegseth continued. “Not going to work with me, because we’re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war-fighters. And anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn’t matter. So I’m happy to be here at the Easter Egg Roll with my dad and my kids.”

Asked if he had spoken to the president, Hegseth said he had.

“And we are going to continue fighting. On the same page all the way,” Hegseth said.

The New York Times reported late Sunday that Hegseth shared sensitive information about planned strikes in Yemen in a private chat on the Signal app that included his wife, his brother and his personal lawyer.

News of the second chat came roughly a month after the editor in chief of The Atlantic detailed how he was mistakenly added to a group chat of administration officials to discuss plans for military strikes on the Houthis. While national security adviser Mike Waltz took responsibility for that chat, Hegseth shared details about planned strikes in the discussion.

Administration officials have insisted there was no classified information shared in either chat.

Also Sunday, Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, who recently left the department, penned an opinion piece for Politico in which he wrote, “the building is in disarray under Hegseth’s leadership.” There has been a wave of departures of top officials in recent days amid a probe for leaks.

Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate in January. Vice President Vance had to break a tie to solidify his confirmation.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier Monday that the president “absolutely has confidence” in Hegseth.

“I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands strongly behind him,” Leavitt said.

Updated at 10:17 a.m. EDT