Trump Allies’ Growing Concerns
The White House is publicly defending Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he texted sensitive military information in a Signal chat. But behind the scenes, administration insiders are starting to express doubts about the Pentagon chief’s judgment.
Officials agree national security adviser Mike Waltz, who accidentally invited a journalist to a group chat with senior leaders, could more easily take the fall for a scandal that has embarrassed the administration — which may end up sparing Hegseth his job.
But Republican hawks, Pentagon officials, and even some inside the White House now believe Hegseth also messed up by sending likely classified details from his phone. And that has the potential to undermine his credibility in the administration.
Because Trump clearly likes and has publicly exonerated Hegseth, “you’re not going to hear a huge public outcry,” said a senior GOP official on Capitol Hill who is close to the White House. “But, privately, there is a lot of concern about his judgment, more than with Waltz.”
Challenges for Hegseth
Even for a Pentagon chief who has copied Trump’s pugilistic style — down to his Sharpie signature and campaign-style videos — Hegseth’s growing pile of mistakes are getting noticed, according to four officials and two people in touch with the administration.
“The problem is this is another example of inexperience,” said a person close to the White House, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss a politically sensitive issue. “What happens when Hegseth needs to manage a real crisis?”
The Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment. But Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell has reiterated the White House’s attack against the journalist who was added to the chat, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.
“These additional Signal chat messages confirm there were no classified materials or war plans shared,” he said, in reference to The Atlantic’s Wednesday release of text excerpts. “The secretary was merely updating the group on a plan that was underway and had already been briefed through official channels.”
Increasing Calls for Resignation
Now dozens of Democratic lawmakers are calling for Hegseth’s resignation. Grassroots campaigns have sprouted up on progressive websites to investigate the Pentagon boss. And Senate Armed Services Committee leaders have launched a bipartisan probe into the episode.
“Intentionally putting classified info on an unclassified application is the real crime,” Rep. Dan Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and retired Air Force brigadier general, wrote in an X post.
But most top GOP lawmakers continue to publicly defend the Pentagon chief.
Challenges Ahead
Hegseth’s tough confirmation cost the administration significant political capital. Trump allies worry about another long battle in the Senate to replace him. And the Pentagon leader has largely followed the president’s own playbook, issuing angry attacks on the journalist to a pool of reporters that mostly included friendly conservative media and foreign outlets.
He has also shared video montages of his meetings with military leaders in Asia and appearances with troops set to a soaring soundtrack. It’s a sharp departure from previous Pentagon chiefs who didn’t focus on a personal brand.
And it contrasts Waltz’s own clean-up strategy, which has left the president unsatisfied — particularly, his fumbling Tuesday night Fox interview, said a person familiar with Trump’s thinking on Waltz’s handling of the interview.
“He went on TV, and when you feel the heat sometimes you don’t make the clearest of arguments,” the person said. “This is way too early for you to go on TV and talk about this. You’re still clearly rattled.”
Concerns and Loyalty
But the president is reluctant to put someone on the chopping block, the person said.
Trump appreciates shows of strength when attacked. He relished Hegseth’s pushback to accusations of sexual misconduct during his confirmation process. And the Pentagon chief has proven a loyal appointee. But the latest incident has some officials worried about Hegseth’s handling of the tougher aspects of the job.
“Hegseth has done everything the White House has asked when it comes to culture wars, DEI, and Project 2025,” said a defense official. “But they’re nearing the end of those projects. Now comes the hard stuff: budgets, workforce, overseas basing, and dealing with allies.”
Political Landscape
Democrats are skeptical that Trump will punish anyone.
“It’s part of the Trump administration ethos,” said Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. “There are no rules, there are no standards, there is no truth, there is no accountability. What Trump says is the truth.”
