Trump allies are beginning to recognize Hegseth's accumulating errors
Certain officials from the White House and the Pentagon now hold the view that Hegseth is the individual responsible for the Signal chat scandal due to his transmission of sensitive information from his phone.
TroibNews 
The White House is publicly standing by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following his transmission of sensitive military information in a Signal chat. However, within the administration, some insiders are beginning to question the judgment of the Pentagon chief.
While there is consensus that national security adviser Mike Waltz, who mistakenly added a journalist to a group chat with senior officials, may face repercussions for the controversy that has caused embarrassment for the administration, it appears Hegseth's position might be more secure as a result. Still, Pentagon officials, Republican hawks, and even some within the White House are becoming increasingly aware of Hegseth's misstep in sharing what could be classified details from his phone, potentially damaging his credibility.
Given that Trump clearly supports and has absolved Hegseth publicly, “you’re not going to hear a huge public outcry,” remarked a senior GOP official familiar with the White House. “But, privately, there is a lot of concern about his judgment, more than with Waltz.”
For a Pentagon chief who has emulated Trump's combative style, including his Sharpie signature and campaign-themed videos, Hegseth’s accumulating errors are gaining attention from insiders, according to several officials and individuals engaging with the administration.
“This is another example of inexperience,” commented a person connected to the White House, who was granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. “What happens when Hegseth needs to manage a real crisis?”
The Defense Department declined to comment. However, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell reiterated the White House’s criticism of the journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, who was added to the chat. “These additional Signal chat messages confirm there were no classified materials or war plans shared,” he stated in response to The Atlantic’s release of text excerpts. “The secretary was merely updating the group on a plan that was underway and had already been briefed through official channels.”
Hegseth briefly addressed the situation while on a weeklong trip to Asia, asserting that the information in the messages “doesn’t look like war plans.” He added, “You know who sees war plans? I see them. Every single day.”
Nonetheless, this incident threatens to overshadow his inaugural major trip to the Indo-Pacific and follows other missteps, such as his retraction of comments about Ukraine war negotiations made in Brussels and an unsuccessful attempt to transfer thousands of detained migrants to Guantanamo Bay.
In response, dozens of Democratic lawmakers have called for Hegseth's resignation, with grassroots campaigns emerging on progressive platforms to investigate the Pentagon chief. Additionally, leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee have initiated a bipartisan inquiry into the matter.
“Intentionally putting classified info on an unclassified application is the real crime,” Rep. Dan Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and retired Air Force brigadier general, expressed in a post on X.
Despite this, most top GOP lawmakers continue to publicly support the Pentagon chief. “No one needs to lose their job over this, but we do need to get to the bottom of it and just be assured it's not going to happen anymore,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer, an ally of Trump.
Hegseth’s challenging confirmation process cost the administration considerable political capital, and Trump’s allies are apprehensive about engaging in another lengthy Senate battle for his replacement. Hegseth has largely adhered to the president’s strategy, vocally attacking the journalist and sharing video montages of his meetings with military leaders in Asia, all set to a dramatic soundtrack— a notable departure from how previous Pentagon leaders managed their public personas.
This is in contrast to Waltz's cleanup efforts, which have reportedly left Trump dissatisfied—particularly after Waltz’s awkward Fox interview on Tuesday night, as noted by a person familiar with Trump’s views on his approach. “He went on TV, and when you feel the heat sometimes you don’t make the clearest of arguments,” the source observed. “This is way too early for you to go on TV and talk about this. You’re still clearly rattled.”
Despite these challenges, the president appears hesitant to take any drastic measures. Trump appreciates displays of strength when facing criticism and valued Hegseth’s defense against allegations of sexual misconduct during the confirmation process. Hegseth has proven to be a loyal appointee, but the latest incident has raised concerns among some officials about his ability to manage more significant challenges in his role.
“Hegseth has done everything the White House has asked when it comes to culture wars, DEI, and Project 2025,” a defense official noted. “But they’re nearing the end of those projects. Now comes the hard stuff: budgets, workforce, overseas basing and dealing with allies.”
Skepticism remains among Democrats regarding Trump’s willingness to hold anyone accountable. “It’s part of the Trump administration ethos,” remarked Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. “There are no rules, there are no standards, there is no truth, there is no accountability. What Trump says is the truth.”
Connor O’Brien and Jake Traylor contributed reporting.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
While there is consensus that national security adviser Mike Waltz, who mistakenly added a journalist to a group chat with senior officials, may face repercussions for the controversy that has caused embarrassment for the administration, it appears Hegseth's position might be more secure as a result. Still, Pentagon officials, Republican hawks, and even some within the White House are becoming increasingly aware of Hegseth's misstep in sharing what could be classified details from his phone, potentially damaging his credibility.
Given that Trump clearly supports and has absolved Hegseth publicly, “you’re not going to hear a huge public outcry,” remarked a senior GOP official familiar with the White House. “But, privately, there is a lot of concern about his judgment, more than with Waltz.”
For a Pentagon chief who has emulated Trump's combative style, including his Sharpie signature and campaign-themed videos, Hegseth’s accumulating errors are gaining attention from insiders, according to several officials and individuals engaging with the administration.
“This is another example of inexperience,” commented a person connected to the White House, who was granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject. “What happens when Hegseth needs to manage a real crisis?”
The Defense Department declined to comment. However, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell reiterated the White House’s criticism of the journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, who was added to the chat. “These additional Signal chat messages confirm there were no classified materials or war plans shared,” he stated in response to The Atlantic’s release of text excerpts. “The secretary was merely updating the group on a plan that was underway and had already been briefed through official channels.”
Hegseth briefly addressed the situation while on a weeklong trip to Asia, asserting that the information in the messages “doesn’t look like war plans.” He added, “You know who sees war plans? I see them. Every single day.”
Nonetheless, this incident threatens to overshadow his inaugural major trip to the Indo-Pacific and follows other missteps, such as his retraction of comments about Ukraine war negotiations made in Brussels and an unsuccessful attempt to transfer thousands of detained migrants to Guantanamo Bay.
In response, dozens of Democratic lawmakers have called for Hegseth's resignation, with grassroots campaigns emerging on progressive platforms to investigate the Pentagon chief. Additionally, leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee have initiated a bipartisan inquiry into the matter.
“Intentionally putting classified info on an unclassified application is the real crime,” Rep. Dan Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and retired Air Force brigadier general, expressed in a post on X.
Despite this, most top GOP lawmakers continue to publicly support the Pentagon chief. “No one needs to lose their job over this, but we do need to get to the bottom of it and just be assured it's not going to happen anymore,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer, an ally of Trump.
Hegseth’s challenging confirmation process cost the administration considerable political capital, and Trump’s allies are apprehensive about engaging in another lengthy Senate battle for his replacement. Hegseth has largely adhered to the president’s strategy, vocally attacking the journalist and sharing video montages of his meetings with military leaders in Asia, all set to a dramatic soundtrack— a notable departure from how previous Pentagon leaders managed their public personas.
This is in contrast to Waltz's cleanup efforts, which have reportedly left Trump dissatisfied—particularly after Waltz’s awkward Fox interview on Tuesday night, as noted by a person familiar with Trump’s views on his approach. “He went on TV, and when you feel the heat sometimes you don’t make the clearest of arguments,” the source observed. “This is way too early for you to go on TV and talk about this. You’re still clearly rattled.”
Despite these challenges, the president appears hesitant to take any drastic measures. Trump appreciates displays of strength when facing criticism and valued Hegseth’s defense against allegations of sexual misconduct during the confirmation process. Hegseth has proven to be a loyal appointee, but the latest incident has raised concerns among some officials about his ability to manage more significant challenges in his role.
“Hegseth has done everything the White House has asked when it comes to culture wars, DEI, and Project 2025,” a defense official noted. “But they’re nearing the end of those projects. Now comes the hard stuff: budgets, workforce, overseas basing and dealing with allies.”
Skepticism remains among Democrats regarding Trump’s willingness to hold anyone accountable. “It’s part of the Trump administration ethos,” remarked Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the leading Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. “There are no rules, there are no standards, there is no truth, there is no accountability. What Trump says is the truth.”
Connor O’Brien and Jake Traylor contributed reporting.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
