Pete Hegseth Under Fire: Media Smears and Pentagon Leaks Target Trump’s Defense Secretary

From the moment Pete Hegseth was nominated as President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense, a concerted campaign by mainstream media outlets has sought to erode his credibility and impugn his character with calculated precision. Hegseth, a decorated combat veteran, has confronted these allegations with the resolve of a seasoned warrior, steadfastly defending his integrity.

Recently, Hegseth dismissed three Pentagon staffers—senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—on suspicions of leaking sensitive information to the press. In a joint statement, the trio decried the “baseless attacks” on their character, asserting their honorable military service and noting the opacity surrounding the investigation into alleged leaks, including whether such an inquiry was substantiated or ongoing.

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Mere days later, The New York Times published a report alleging that Hegseth shared sensitive details of U.S. airstrikes against Houthi militants in Yemen via the Signal messaging app with his wife, brother, personal attorney, and others. The Pentagon has firmly denied that any classified information was disclosed. The timing of this report, surfacing shortly after the firings, raises questions about its motives and provenance.

This isn't the first Signal group chat controversy. Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, said he was added to a chat with Hegseth and other cabinet members. The scandal's attention centered on Hegseth, not the individual who added Goldberg to the group.

President Trump has unequivocally reaffirmed his confidence in Hegseth, stating, “Ask the Houthis how he’s doing. Ask the Houthis how much ‘dysfunction’ there is. There’s none.” This endorsement underscores Hegseth’s operational efficacy amid the controversy.

It is noteworthy that remnants of the Biden-Obama administration persist within federal agencies, including the Pentagon. Credible sources suggest that some of these holdovers are actively undermining the Trump administration’s agenda, potentially by disseminating misinformation to figures like FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Such subterfuge may well extend to the Defense Department, fueling the current narrative against Hegseth.

In response, Hegseth has adopted a combative stance, declaring, “They rely on anonymous sources, often disgruntled former employees, to smear and destroy reputations. That won’t work with me. We are transforming the Defense Department, restoring it to the hands of warfighters, and these recycled, baseless attacks from malcontents will not deter us.”

The media offensive against Hegseth began with the resurfacing of a 2017 police report alleging a possible sexual assault. The complainant, who admitted to limited recollection of the incident, noted requesting a condom prior to consensual intercourse. No charges were filed, as law enforcement deemed the case non-criminal. A settlement was reached, likely to avoid protracted legal costs rather than as an admission of guilt.

Further, The New York Times publicized a 2018 personal email from Hegseth’s mother, written “out of love,” in which she briefly labeled him an “abuser of women.” She promptly retracted the statement with an apology, a fact omitted in much of the reporting. Hegseth’s mother later defended him publicly, highlighting the selective narrative pushed by the media.

Additionally, The New Yorker cited anonymous Fox News colleagues who alleged Hegseth struggled with alcohol issues. As a former Fox employee who worked closely with Hegseth, I found these claims astonishing and unsubstantiated. Neither I nor his co-hosts observed such behavior. To counter this narrative, I authored a letter to every U.S. Senator, affirming Hegseth’s professionalism and character based on firsthand experience.

This multifaceted campaign against Hegseth reflects a broader effort to discredit a transformative figure. His resilience in the face of these attacks underscores his commitment to reforming the Pentagon and prioritizing national security.

Pete Hegseth is strategically unsettling the entrenched elites who thrive on perpetual conflict and have systematically undermined the U.S. military’s integrity. His detractors—those vested in eroding national defense—view him as a formidable threat to their influence.

The sobering truth is that our government’s upper echelons are disproportionately occupied by individuals prioritizing personal agendas over public good, many of whom are actively working to thwart President Trump’s vision. When sensationalist narratives surface, exercise discernment: the targets of such attacks are often those most dedicated to advancing the interests of the American people. Hegseth exemplifies this commitment, having relinquished a comfortable role on Fox & Friends to champion the restoration of American greatness. His resolve underscores a selfless dedication to national renewal.