Trump backs Hegseth after experiences of second Sign chat on Yemen strikes – INA NEWS

United States President Donald Trump has backed his defence chief following experiences he shared delicate navy info in a second Sign group chat, branding the newest controversy in regards to the prime Pentagon official a “waste of time”.

Trump’s backing of US Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth on Monday got here after a number of media retailers reported that the defence chief had shared particulars about deliberate bombing raids on Yemen in a bunch chat that included his spouse, brother and private lawyer.

The experiences have reignited scrutiny of Hegseth’s management, following revelations final month that he shared particulars about upcoming air strikes on Houthi rebels in a Sign group chat that the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic journal had been mistakenly added to.

“Right here we go once more. Only a waste of time,” Trump instructed reporters on the White Home.

“He’s doing an ideal job.”

“Ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump added.

Trump additionally prompt that Hegseth, a former US Military Nationwide Guard officer and Fox Information host, was the sufferer of “disgruntled workers”, after a number of of his former aides, together with his former press secretary, John Ullyot, publicly criticised him.

In an op-ed revealed on Sunday, Ullyot, certainly one of 4 defence officers that Hegseth fired or requested to resign within the final week, wrote that the Pentagon was in “disarray” and “whole chaos” beneath the secretary’s management.

“They only convey up tales,” Trump mentioned.

“I suppose it seems like disgruntled workers. You recognize, he was put there to do away with a number of dangerous individuals, and that’s what he’s doing. So that you don’t at all times have buddies while you do this.”

Hegseth additionally hit out on the criticisms, accusing the media of utilizing former workers with grievances “to slash and burn individuals and wreck their reputations”.

Quite a few Democratic lawmakers, together with Senate minority chief Chuck Schumer, have known as on Hegseth to resign or be fired over the controversy.

Republicans, apart from Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska – who has known as for Hegseth’s elimination – have both remained silent or rallied to his defence.

“It looks as if the leak investigation on the Pentagon must proceed to seek out these newest leakers,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, mentioned on X.

“Secretary Hegseth is busy implementing President Trump’s America First agenda, whereas these leakers try to undermine them each. Shameful.”