Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is alleged to have shared secret military operations in a family chat. Trump is under pressure – is dismissal now imminent?

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under intense pressure after it emerged that he allegedly shared sensitive military information via a private Signal group chat with his wife, brother, and other confidants. According to the Bild newspaper, the information in question relates to details of planned air strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen, including the last-minute deployment of F/A-18 fighter jets.

Confidential data in family chat

According to Bild.de, citing internal US military sources, Hegseth was already criticized in February when it became known that a journalist had accidentally been included in a Signal chat with military content. However, the current case is more explosive because Hegseth created the “Defense | Team Huddle” group himself and published operational details there before they were officially confirmed.

An anonymous insider from the Pentagon confirmed to Fox News that such data must normally remain top secret: “Anyone who sends such information unsecured is violating basic security protocols.”

Republicans and Democrats demand consequences

Reactions from Congress were not long in coming. Don Bacon, Republican congressman and former US Air Force general, told CNN: “I had doubts about Hegseth’s suitability from the outset. He simply lacks the experience.” Democratic voices are now also calling for his resignation. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Hegseth’s behavior “a dangerous act of overreach” (New York Times).

White House stands behind Hegseth (for now)

Despite public criticism, the White House is standing by Hegseth for now. According to the Associated Press, a spokesperson for President Donald Trump said they wanted to “wait for the results of the internal investigation” currently being conducted by the Pentagon’s inspector general.

The accusation: Hegseth may have sent information that was classified – or at least so detailed that it allowed conclusions to be drawn about military operations.

Hegseth’s defense: No big deal?

Hegseth himself rejected all allegations and spoke of a “media witch hunt” based on anonymous sources, according to Bild.de. In a statement, he said: “These reports are based on frustration from former employees who have a personal agenda.” He also emphasized that the content shared was “not classified.”

Whether this argument will be enough to save his job remains to be seen – especially given that the incident further strains the already tense relationship between Trump and parts of the military leadership.

Conclusion: Will Trump make an example of him?

The question of whether Donald Trump will dismiss his first minister in his new term remains open. What is clear, however, is that the leak scandal surrounding Pete Hegseth has caused political and security policy waves – and could become a test case for Trump’s handling of internal discipline.