Politicians talk a good game, often loudly and at length. It’s part of the show. But behind closed doors, they get down to brass tacks. Donald Trump is likely no exception. Now, as questions swirl around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump faces a simple but crucial question: Is Hegseth worth it?
Let’s take a closer look.
Hegseth’s nomination was never smooth sailing. The former Army National Guard officer and Fox News host faced sharp criticism — not so much for his military service, but for his perceived lack of the experience needed to lead the Pentagon. Allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse further dogged his confirmation process.
Determined, Hegseth personally worked the halls of Washington, calling on senators one by one to secure their support. In the end, Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after a 50-50 deadlock, with both West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice voting to confirm.
Then came Signal.
Signal is an encrypted messaging app, known for its strict focus on privacy and security. It allows users to send texts, voice messages, photos, videos, and make calls. All protected by end-to-end encryption.
But that encryption doesn’t excuse poor judgment.
According to Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, Hegseth shared the administration’s war plans targeting Houthi militants in Yemen over Signal. Goldberg was accidentally included in the Signal thread by National Security Advisor Mike Walz. Before events unfolded, Hegseth had already distributed sensitive operational details.
One mistake? Maybe forgivable. But it didn’t stop there.
The New York Times reported a second incident. Hegseth allegedly shared similar sensitive information with his wife, his brother, and his lawyer. Neither his wife — a private citizen — nor it seems his brother or his attorney, despite their Pentagon ties, had any clear need to receive such material.
Now, Hegseth is on defense.
Returning to familiar ground, he appeared on Fox & Friends Tuesday, arguing that what was shared was “informal, unclassified coordination for media purposes.” He blamed left-wing reporters, saying, “This is all about trying to get at President Trump and his agenda.”
Hegseth also accused “leakers” within the Defense Department of attempting to sabotage both he and the president, claiming those individuals have since been fired.
For now, Trump stands by his Defense Secretary, though reports suggest internal discussions are already underway about a possible replacement.
Hegseth’s decision to place sensitive information into a text chain — regardless of encryption — shows a reckless disregard for basic operational security. Why would his wife, brother, or lawyer need that information? They don’t. And the first incident is evidence of pattern given the second circumstance. Alarming.
The concerns that trailed Hegseth’s nomination were smoke. These incidents reveal the fire.
Loyalty matters. Trump has always valued it and deserves credit for offering it. But loyalty cannot outweigh recklessness, especially when national security is at stake.
Hegseth deserves a full investigation before any decision is made. Terminating his employment would be unfair and suspect minus such. But if the facts hold, this may be the easiest “You’re fired” Mr. Trump has ever delivered.