Twice the Warrior, SECDEF

There’s significant uncertainty around whether Pete Hegseth will remain Secretary of Defense. Reports from April 22, 2025, indicate the White House is searching for a replacement after Hegseth shared sensitive military information in Signal group chats, sparking outrage among military sources and officials who argue it endangered lives. NPR cited a U.S. official confirming the search, and former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot called the situation a “full-blown meltdown,” predicting Hegseth’s exit. However, the White House and Trump have publicly denied these claims, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the reports “fake news” on April 21, and Trump stating Hegseth is “doing a great job.” Some officials believe Hegseth’s alignment with Trump’s agenda might keep him in place for now, despite the chaos. The situation remains unresolved as of April 23, 2025.