President Donald Trump on Monday reaffirmed his backing for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after reports emerged that Hegseth had leaked classified information through an unclassified Signal messaging group to include family members and close friends. The incident is the second time Hegseth has employed the encrypted app Signal to discuss classified military operations. The latest leak centers on information surrounding the March 15 US airstrike against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. The leak comes as the Pentagon is going through an internal upheaval, with several senior officials removed last week amid a leak probe.

Trump "Totally confident" In Hegseth?

Addressing the media at the White House, Trump came to the defense of his defense secretary. “Pete’s doing a great job. Everybody’s happy with him,” he told reporters. "Ask the Houthis how he's doing." The Trump administration has increased its military campaign against the Houthis in recent months. Despite bipartisan condemnation, including calls for the resignation of Hegseth from at least nine Senate Democrats, Trump seems bent on retaining him. "I have spoken with the president, and we are going to keep fighting on the same page throughout," Hegseth told a different briefing.

Signal Chat Included Family, Top Aides

The second Signal group, according to Reuters, consisted of around a dozen individuals—Hegseth's wife, Jennifer, a former Fox News producer, and his brother, a Department of Homeland Security liaison, among them. Hegseth had been warned previously against using unclassified communication apps, according to reports, prior to the March incident. The Pentagon Inspector General has opened a formal investigation into the incident, citing concerns regarding the use of insecure systems for sensitive military coordination.

Internal Shakeup Fuels Pentagon Scrutiny

The fallout is ongoing as Dan Caldwell, Hegseth's senior adviser, was removed from the Pentagon last week after being implicated in the leak investigation. Two other officials, Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, were put on administrative leave and later fired. Republican lawmakers have largely kept quiet.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who tweeted on X (formerly Twitter), said, “We keep learning how Pete Hegseth put lives at risk. But Trump is still too weak to fire him. Pete Hegseth must be fired.”He contends that the constant utilization of Signal for sharing sensitive information on national security indicates a tendency of the Pentagon chief appointed by Trump towards carelessness. Despite the controversy, Trump remains steadfast. With his defense chief closely aligned with his political and military priorities, the administration appears unwilling to cede ground to growing Democratic pressure.

Also read: Yemen War Plans Leaked: Trumps' Defence Chief Shared US Intel With Wife, Lawyer