By Molly Goddard
2:36am PDT, Apr 23, 2025
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Donald Trump isn't throwing
Pete Hegseth under the bus.
After
The New York Times reported that the Defense Secretary allegedly shared confidential military information with his family members in a Signal group text, in addition to former employees claiming the department is falling into disarray under his leadership, the president of the United States made it clear he is firmly standing behind Hegseth.
Keep reading to see what Trump said about the controversies surrounding his staff member…
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While speaking with journalists at the White House's Easter Egg Roll on Monday, April 21, Donald Trump raved about Pete Hegseth's work. "He's doing a great job," the Republican leader said via the
New York Post. Trump called the reports of him firing Hegseth over the alleged leak a "waste of time."
"Ask the Houthis how he's doing," the
commander-in-chief noted, referencing the armed political and religious group.
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During a Monday, April 21, appearance on
Fox & Friends, White House Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt went as far as to claim the staff at the Department of Defense is trying to harm Pete Hegseth's career after
Politico published a takedown by a former Pentagon staffer.
"The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon," the media liaison said. "This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and against the monumental change that you are trying to implement."
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Pete Hegseth also spoke out about the allegations against him while attending the annual
White House event alongside his wife,
Jennifer Rauchet, who was reportedly a part of the text chain with the classified information.
"What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax [and] won't give back their Pulitzers," the official told members of the media via the
New York Post.
"This is what the media does," Hegseth emphasized. "They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations."
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A spokesperson for the Pentagon came out strongly against the reports of the department crumbling with Pete Hegseth at the helm.
"Another day, another old story — back from the dead,"
Sean Parnell penned in a Monday, April 21, message shared to X. "There was no classified information in any
Signal chat, no matter how many ways they try to write the story."
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In the story published by
Politico, former chief Pentagon spokesperson
John Ullyot made shocking allegations about what went on behind the scenes at the Department of Defense.
"In short, the building is in disarray under Hegseth's leadership," he claimed. "There are very likely more shoes to drop in short order, with even bigger
bombshell stories coming this week, key Pentagon reporters have been telling sources privately."
