Hegseth Lashes Out At Media After Firing His Own Aides Amid Pentagon ‘Meltdown’ | EUROtoday

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at reporters Monday over a query about his use of a private telephone to debate conflict plans in group chats with unauthorized members.

Speaking in entrance of his kids on the White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth advised the tales had been planted by his personal aides, three of whom he just lately fired.

“What a 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,” Hegseth mentioned.

“This is what the media does: They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,” Hegseth later added. “Not going to work with me, because we’re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters.”

The New York Times reported Sunday that 4 sources mentioned Hegseth had shared navy assault plans in a Signal chat that included his spouse, brother and private lawyer.

But it’s not simply nameless sources dishing on Hegseth. John Ullyot, who resigned final week from the Pentagon’s communications division, wrote in a exceptional op-ed Sunday that the individuals Hegseth fired weren’t answerable for the leaks.

“Unfortunately, Hegseth’s team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door,” Ullyot wrote, including that Hegseth is now “presiding over a strange and baffling purge” that may depart him with out individuals who’d been his closest aides.

The fired aides, together with Hegseth’s former deputy chief of employees in addition to a former senior adviser, denied leaking data and mentioned in a joint assertion they didn’t know why they’d been fired.

“The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon — and it’s becoming a real problem for the administration,” Ullyot wrote.

Ullyot predicted Trump would quickly change Hegseth, whom the U.S. Senate confirmed to his publish regardless of considerations about his previous consuming, erratic habits and lack of expertise managing a big paperwork. Trump himself mentioned he was proud of Hegseth on Monday; NPR reported the White House is on the lookout for a alternative.

Hegseth ignored a query about Ullyot as he continued his tirade.

“I’m happy to be here at the Easter Egg Roll with my dad and my kids because, you know, this is what we’re doing it for ― these kids right here. This is why we’re fighting the fake news media,” Hegseth mentioned, pointing to his kids.

Then he pointed on the media.

“This group right here ― full of hoaxsters that peddle anonymous sources from leakers with axes to grind, and then you put it all together as if it’s some news story.”

Pentagon spokespeople didn’t instantly reply to requests for touch upon Monday.