War Secretary Pete Hegseth has become the focal point of a serious controversy after a Pentagon watchdog's findings indicated that he may have jeopardized American lives by disclosing sensitive military information in a Signal group chat. The incident, which has been termed "Signalgate," emerged in March when Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic reported the leak, sending shockwaves through the political landscape of Washington, D.C.
The White House has been quick to dismiss the allegations, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt labeling Goldberg as an "anti-Trump hater" and highlighting his and his wife's Democratic affiliations. Despite the dismissal, Hegseth has faced intense criticism, with many of his detractors calling for his resignation.
President Donald Trump, however, has stood by the Pentagon leader, stating, "I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts." This support comes in the face of a Department of War review that has now reported Hegseth's actions did indeed put American troops at risk.
The report's findings have been echoed by Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin (D), a vocal critic of the administration who has previously urged U.S. troops to resist "illegal orders" from the Trump administration. Senator Slotkin has called for Hegseth to be held accountable, citing the report's confirmation that Hegseth used a personal phone and unclassified app to share operational details, including strike times and specific weapons systems.
Senator Slotkin took to Twitter to express her concerns, stating that if a uniformed military officer had acted similarly, they would be held accountable or would have acknowledged the additional risk they posed to their colleagues. Hegseth, however, has not admitted to any wrongdoing and has even made light of the situation.
At the Fox Nation Patriot Awards in November, Hegseth joked about contacting former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Signal, a comment that has not gone unnoticed amidst the scandal. Waltz, who inadvertently added Goldberg to the group chat, has since been reassigned from his position as National Security adviser to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
The full implications of "Signalgate" are yet to be determined, but the unclassified version of the report is set to be released to the public, allowing for further scrutiny and debate over the actions of War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
