The White House on Monday denounced NPR reports that the new Pentagon chief is ongoing as “fake news,” following new reports of Defense Secretary Pete Hegses’ use of the signalling app and criticism from former Pentagon officials.
“This @NPR story is totally fake news based on anonymous sources that don’t clearly know what they’re talking about. As the president said this morning, he’s standing strong behind @secdef.” I said in x.
The government’s rapid response team Called X’s “wrong” and “fake news.”
NPRcited an anonymous US official, reporting that the White House has begun a process of searching for Heggs’ alternatives.
Development came later The New York Times reported On Sunday, Hegses shared information about Yemen’s planned strike in private chats about signals with his wife, brother and his personal lawyer.
“What a huge surprise to see a few leaks fired and so many hits coming out of the same media that suddenly pitched Russian hoax,” Heggs told reporters on the annual White House Easter Eggroll on Monday, knocking on the Times report.
“This is what the media is doing. They get anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to cut people, burn them, ruin their reputation,” Hegses continued.
Trump also defended Hegses, saying his defense secretary “doesn’t do a great job” and that he sought the controversy as “fake news.”
Additionally, Levitt told reporters early Monday that the president was “absolutely confident” to Heggs.
Hegseth had already used the signal to bathe in hot water after the Atlantic Prime Minister’s editor last month shared that it was accidentally added to a group chat where national security adviser Mike Waltz discussed plans for Houthis’ military strike.
The administration emphasizes that there is no classification information shared in either chat.
The Pentagon has seen some recent deviations by top officials. And former Pentagon spokesman John Ulitt, who resigned last week, chose Heggs. Opinion piece It was published in Politico over the weekend and claimed “the building is in chaos” under the guidance of the Secretary of Defense.
Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, was one of Trump’s most controversial cabinet. He was narrowly confirmed to his post from the Senate, and Vice President Vance broke his tie to confirm him.
The hill requested comment from NPR on Leavitt’s post.
