Trump Strongly Backs US Defense Secretary Amid New Leak Allegations: ‘He’s Doing a Phenomenal Job’

A storm has erupted in the US following a recent publication (April 21, 2025) by the New York Times, which claims that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leaked classified information regarding attacks against the Houthis in Yemen. Despite this, President Donald Trump continues to strongly support him. A White House representative confirmed that Trump stands firmly behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is facing new allegations of security breaches and general incompetence. “The president strongly supports Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” stated White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt to reporters. She added, “This happens when the entire Pentagon acts against us and the massive changes we want to implement. Unfortunately, there are people in this building (the Pentagon) who don’t like these changes the secretary is trying to make, so they orchestrate leaks and tell lies to the media.” In an interview with CNN, Hegseth himself echoed similar sentiments: “This is what the press does. They take anonymous sources, disgruntled former employees, and try to hurt and attack individuals, attempting to destroy their reputations. I spoke with the president, and we will continue to fight. We’re completely on the same page.” Previously employed as a Fox News presenter, Hegseth is now at the center of fresh revelations. According to the New York Times and CNN, during a Signal conversation involving his wife, brother, lawyer, and around a dozen members of his personal and professional circle, Hegseth is under investigation within an internal Defense Department probe for revealing sensitive information on March 15, 2025, mistakenly including a journalist in the Signal group. Former Pentagon spokesperson John Aliot also published a scathing opinion piece on Sunday (April 20, 2025), describing ‘a month of absolute chaos’ at the Pentagon and urging Trump to relieve Hegseth of his duties. Accused of sexual assault, excessive alcohol consumption, and receiving heavy criticism for his lack of experience in managing high-level military affairs, Hegseth eventually secured Senate approval for his appointment after intense lobbying.