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Pete Hegseth reportedly used Signal to send secret war plans to his family. Right-wing media blame the “deep state” for the report.

Written by Gideon Taaffe

Published

Former Fox News host and current Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is again making headlines for using the Signal chat app to share highly sensitive information about forthcoming Yemen strikes, this time with his family members, and right-wing media are running to his defense, claiming “deep state” actors are trying to bring Hegseth down. 

Right-wing media have also claimed that the “war machine in this country” wants Hegseth out to regain “the use of the military to promote politicized nonsense.” 

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  • Pete Hegseth reportedly sent Yemen air strike plans to private citizens over Signal, and he blamed his fired aides for the “hit pieces”

    • The defense secretary allegedly “shared detailed information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen” with his wife, his brother, and a personal lawyer, according to The New York Times. The Times reported that Hegseth created the Signal chat and that “he used his private phone, rather than his government one, to access” it. [The New York Times, 4/20/25]
    • On Sunday, Hegseth claimed, “Big surprise that a few leakers get fired, and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made similar comments on Fox News, saying, “This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change you are trying to implement.” [Politico, 4/21/25]
    • The “leakers” Hegseth mentioned included two of his closest aides. Axios reported, “Just days earlier, three top Pentagon officials — including two of Hegseth's closest aides — were fired after an investigation into alleged leaks. All three vigorously deny the accusations.” [Axios, 4/22/25]
    • Last month, The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg reported that he was accidentally added to a group chat of senior Trump officials, in which Hegseth had shared plans discussing the same strike in Yemen. National security adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Goldberg to that chat and, according to The Atlantic, Hegseth shared “operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing.” [Media Matters, 3/26/25, 3/25/25]

  • Right-wing media are blaming the “deep state” for Hegseth’s troubles

    • Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade asked Hegseth, “Do you think there's a lot of people that don't want you there and there's some type of deep state forces that want to make sure you don't stay there?” Hegseth responded saying, “They’ve come after me from day one, just like they’ve come after President Trump.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/22/25]
    • Kilmeade also suggested that “within the Pentagon, maybe people are jockeying for influence by going after people that disagree with them” on Iran policy. Kilmeade: “The other problem is there are people in the Pentagon that want to, very fervent that Iran can't be trusted and needs to have their weapons taken out. And other people are pushing for talks. And within the Pentagon, maybe people are jockeying for influence by going after people that disagree with them.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/22/25]
    • Newsmax host Greg Kelly claimed the crisis around Hegseth is a “deep state set-up.” He added that Hegseth “did exactly what the government told him to do and now he’s in trouble for it? That’s a crime. It’s a crime. It’s a trap set by the federal government. I know this — I know it in my bones.” [Newsmax, Greg Kelly Tonight, 4/21/25]
    • Infowars’ Alex Jones commented, “Pete Hegseth is in the crosshairs of the deep state - see how they are waging an information war to have him replaced!” [Twitter/X, 4/22/25]
    • Right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich commented about the second Signal chat, “The deep state is trying to remove anyone who doesn't want World War III to break out.” [Twitter/X, 4/20/25]
    • Right-wing journalist Lara Logan claimed the “manufactured Pete Hegseth crisis” is “a CIA information warfare operation.” She continued on social media, “If you hear a Republican giving this oxygen, change the channel & make a note to never listen to that person again. They are either ignorant or deceived or too stupid to understand - or worse, they are not playing for the right team.” [Twitter/X, 4/21/25]
    • Revolver News published a blog titled “There is a highly orchestrated, dark campaign afoot to take down Pete Hegseth.” The blog claimed, “The moment you start undoing what the globalists built, the uniparty strikes back with a vengeance. And right now there’s a highly coordinated campaign to take down Pete Hegseth.” [Revolver News, 4/21/25]

  • Some in right-wing media also suggested that Hegseth is being attacked for being anti-war

    • Newsmax host Rob Schmitt claimed there's a “war machine in this country,” and it’s trying to “oust this man that is decimating the way that this thing functions.” [Newsmax, Rob Schmitt Tonight, 4/21/25]
    • Right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk claimed the outrage is “not about some Signal chat” but about losing “the influence of neocons and warmongers, and the use of the military to promote politicized nonsense.” Kirk: “When they come after Pete Hegseth, just remember everything they DON'T want to talk about… Recruiting is up. Morale is up. Standards are up. Efficiency is up. America's influence is up. And most importantly, lethality is up. What's down? Only the influence of neocons and warmongers, and the use of the military to promote politicized nonsense. That's what they want back — it's not about some Signal chat.” [Twitter/X, 4/20/25]
    • Far-right pundit Jack Posobiec: “Deep state trying hard to bounce Hegseth after the Iran story dropped last week where he helped stop WW3.” He added, “So obvious what they’re doing.” [Twitter/X, 4/20/25]
    • LindellTV host Emerald Robinson claimed, “The push to get rid of @SecDef Hegseth is being done by the pro-Israel hawks who want to install Senator Tom Cotton in the Pentagon to make sure America goes to war with Iran, according to three sources.” [Twitter/X, 4/21/25]
    • Right-wing influencer Amuse claimed those that want “war with Iran” are pushing for Hegseth’s resignation. Amuse posted, “DEI & IRAN: Pro-DEI members like Rep Bacon and neocons who want war with Iran are joining forces to convince Trump to ask for Pete Hegseth’s resignation. Just say no.” [Twitter/X, 4/21/25; The Guardian, 8/26/24]
    • War Room host Steve Bannon shared an article about Hegseth, writing, “Pete Hegseth Versus the Military Industrial Complex.” [Twitter/X, 4/22/25]
    • Real America’s Voice host Mike Crispi posted, “Dear Democrats, Neocons, War Hawks, and Globalists: Pete Hegseth isn’t going ANYWHERE!” [Twitter/X, 4/20/25]