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Hegseth Denies Sending War Plans via Signal, but Doesn’t Dispute Group Chat’s Existence
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing back against reports that he texted sensitive military plans in a Signal group chat with top national security officials though notably, he isn’t denying the existence of the chat itself. His comments come amid growing scrutiny over what many are calling a major breach of operational security.
Speaking to reporters upon landing in Hawaii for the start of a weeklong trip to Asia, Hegseth lashed out at the journalist who was mistakenly added to the encrypted chat, which reportedly involved discussions about a recent U.S. bombing campaign against Iran-backed Houthi militants.
The Signal group allegedly included Vice President J.D. Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, all discussing top-secret military strategy prior to this month’s strikes in the Red Sea region.
While Hegseth disputed any claim that he shared classified war plans, he stopped short of denying that the conversation happened over Signal—a non-official, encrypted messaging platform not approved for handling classified information.
Contradicting Hegseth’s attempt to downplay the situation, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughesconfirmed Monday night that the chat appeared to be real. “At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” Hughes said.
The chat was reportedly set up by Mike Waltz, raising questions within the White House about his judgment and future role in the administration. According to a POLITICO report, senior officials are now re-evaluating his standing following the potential security lapse.
When asked about the group chat, President Trump told reporters, “I don’t know anything about it,” distancing himself from the controversy.
Security experts warn that if the Signal thread did include classified details about U.S. military operations, it could represent a serious violation of federal law governing the handling of sensitive national security information.
The reaction in Washington has been swift. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the situation “one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen.”
At the Pentagon, sources say defense officials are alarmed, and spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to comment on the matter.
As questions swirl and the investigation unfolds, critics are asking whether this was a reckless breach of protocol—or part of a deeper issue with how the Trump administration handles national security behind closed doors.
The controversy adds fuel to growing concerns about the use of unofficial communication tools by top U.S. leaders and raises doubts about the administration’s commitment to secure governance.