Pentagon chief fears losing job after Signal scandal - NBC
Photo: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth (Getty Images)
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is concerned about being fired after scandals involving data leaks on Signal. His behavior has become "erratic," according to NBC News.
An American official and another informed source told the publication that during a recent phone call, Donald Trump told Hegseth that he disapproved of the minister sending information about airstrikes in Yemen to a Signal group that included Esper's wife, his brother, and his personal lawyer. Trump called the move "childish."
The conversation ended with Trump telling Hegseth to "keep fighting." Two American officials told NBC News that the Pentagon chief wants the US president to see him as a "fighter" amid the scandals.
Hegseth is increasingly focusing on public and television appearances, particularly on Fox News, where he previously worked and where he can communicate directly with Trump.
According to sources, despite Hegseth's efforts, his behavior has become "erratic," and he appears to be growing more uncertain about his work. He told his subordinates that he cannot afford to get fired.
People who work with the Pentagon chief say he has become "difficult and prickly" in interactions, and he has been reprimanding and shouting at his staff.
Scandal over data leaks in Signal
At the end of March, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg accidentally gained access to a private chat on Signal. The discussion involved strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen — information that is prohibited from being shared over unsecured channels.
It turned out that this was not the only secret chat. In another conversation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth shared details about a US operation against the Houthis, with participants in the chat including his wife, brother, and lawyer.
Following the leak, the Pentagon conducted a purge — Joe Casper, Hegseth's chief of staff, and three other officials were dismissed. They claimed they were victims of unfounded accusations and didn’t even know what they were being accused of.
The situation was further aggravated by another scandal. The media learned that Elon Musk was set to attend a closed US Defense Department briefing on plans in case of war with China, despite not having official access to such information. After Trump's outrage, the Pentagon initiated widespread polygraph tests due to suspicions of a "leak" of sensitive information.
