Hegseth used second Signal chat to share details of Yemen strike, report says
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently came under fire for sharing details of a military airstrike against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen in a Signal message chat that also included his wife and brother. This revelation, first reported by The New York Times, shed light on a second chat that discussed the same attack plans that were previously shared with top Trump administration leaders.
The second chat, which included Hegseth’s wife Jennifer, his brother Phil, and his personal lawyer Tim Parlatore, raised concerns as it contained operational details that could have endangered pilots if shared before the strike. While Jennifer Hegseth is not a Defense Department employee, she has accompanied her husband on overseas trips, raising questions about the necessity of informing her of military operations.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed the reporting as an “old story,” attributing it to disgruntled former employees with motives to sabotage Hegseth and President Trump’s agenda. He maintained that no classified information was shared in any Signal chat, a claim echoed by Hegseth regarding the initial chat.
The White House also downplayed the report, labeling it a “non-story” propagated by former Pentagon employees seeking to spread false claims. Despite the backlash, the administration remains steadfast in holding individuals accountable for any leaks or misinformation.
The fallout from the leaked Signal chats has sparked internal power struggles within the Pentagon, with former spokesman John Ullyot describing a tumultuous month within the agency. Ullyot expressed concern over Hegseth’s leadership and crisis communication strategies, suggesting that Trump may soon hold him accountable for the chaos within the department.
The original Signal chat, organized by national security adviser Mike Waltz, revealed specific details about the weapons systems and timeline for the airstrike in Yemen. The subsequent disclosure of the second chat group has intensified criticism against Hegseth and the Trump administration for failing to address the leak of sensitive military information.
As the controversy surrounding the Signal chats continues to unfold, the administration faces mounting pressure to address security breaches and restore trust within the Pentagon. The implications of these leaks extend beyond internal discord, highlighting the need for stringent measures to safeguard classified information and prevent further breaches in national security protocols.
