Hegseth Criticized for Signal Chat Leak and Allowing Wife in High-Level Military Talks

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under fire for bringing his wife, Jennifer Rauchet Hegseth, to high-level meetings and for leaking sensitive military details in an unsecured group chat. These incidents have sparked widespread criticism and calls for his resignation.

Jennifer Hegseth’s Presence in Sensitive Meetings

Recently, Hegseth took his wife, a former Fox News producer, to two important military meetings. One of these meetings occurred on March 6 at the Pentagon, where he met with U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey and Admiral Tony Radakin, the head of the U.K.’s armed forces. Notably, this meeting took place just one day after the U.S. stopped sharing military intelligence with Ukraine. Discussions focused on the decision’s impact and the future of U.S.-U.K. defense relations.

However, Jennifer did not have the required security clearance to attend such a classified discussion. As a result, her presence raised serious concerns about the administration’s handling of sensitive information.

Leak of Military Information via Signal App

In addition to these concerns, Hegseth is also facing backlash for revealing details about a planned U.S. military strike on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. He reportedly shared information in an unclassified group chat on the Signal messaging app.

Surprisingly, this chat included high-ranking officials like Vice President JD Vance and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. However, in an embarrassing mistake, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the group, exposing the discussion to an unauthorized individual.

Reports suggest the chat covered key operational details such as the timing of the strike and weapon systems involved. Despite the allegations, Hegseth defended himself, insisting, “Nobody was texting war plans.”

Growing Calls for Resignation and Investigations

As a result of these incidents, bipartisan calls for Hegseth’s resignation have intensified. Lawmakers, including both Republicans and Democrats, accuse him of mishandling classified information. Consequently, the Pentagon’s inspector general has launched an investigation at the request of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department have refused to open a formal inquiry. They argue that since the information was not classified and the mission succeeded, further legal action is unnecessary. However, their decision has only fueled more criticism, with many demanding a deeper counterintelligence review.

Overall, these controversies have put Hegseth’s leadership under heavy scrutiny. His handling of classified meetings and sensitive military details has raised major security concerns. Moving forward, the ongoing investigations will determine the consequences of his actions and whether he will remain in his position.