In a surprising turn this weekend, the New York Times revealed that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used an unclassified Signal chat to share details of a March air strike against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. The group included his wife, brother and personal lawyer.
This marks the second high-profile leak on the platform after The Atlantic magazine published the same details last month due to an accidental chat invite to its editor-in-chief. According to four sources familiar with the group, messages even outlined the attack schedule.
An official familiar with the chat defended the practice: "Nothing classified was ever discussed on that chat," the source told The Times.
The fallout spreads beyond Signal. Reports from the Wall Street Journal say Hegseth's wife, Jennifer—a former Fox News producer—has attended sensitive meetings with foreign military counterparts.
As the Pentagon escalates its hunt for leaks, one of Hegseth's top aides, Dan Caldwell, was escorted off the compound last week. Two more staffers—Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll—are now on administrative leave as the investigation widens.
In a public rebuke, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer took to X to demand Hegseth's dismissal, arguing the blunders "put lives at risk" and accusing President Donald Trump of being "too weak to fire him."
Neither the National Security Council nor a Pentagon spokesperson has responded to requests for comment on the newly disclosed chat. The episode underscores the tightrope leaders face between rapid communication and safeguarding national secrets in a digital age.
Reference(s):
U.S. Defense Secretary shared war plans in second Signal chat: NYT
cgtn.com
