President Donald Trump is standing firmly behind Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was targeted in baseless reports alleging he shared sensitive information and brought “dysfunction” to the department.
The Pentagon’s Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell slammed the “fake news” by The New York Times after it cited “four people with knowledge” to claim that Hegseth shared information about an attack on the Houthis with his family. Former chief Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot also targeted Hegseth in an op-ed claiming “bigger bombshell stories” are forthcoming on the veteran and former Fox News host.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt unleashed a scathing rebuke of the critics, making it clear that Trump “strongly” supports his pick to lead the DOD.
“The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” Leavitt told “Fox & Friends” on Monday.
“This is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you and working against the monumental change that you are trying to implement,” Leavitt said.
“Secretary Hegseth was nominated for this position because he is standing up for the war fighter — the men and women in uniform who are putting their lives on the line to protect our country and our homeland. And unfortunately, there have been people at that building who don’t like the change the secretary is trying to bring, so they are leaking and they are lying to the mainstream media,” she added.
Leavitt blasted Ullyot and the sources cited by The New York Times.
“They are lying about the Secretary of Defense!” she asserted.
“Let me reiterate, no classified information was shared in these chats. But you do have leakers who are leaking classified information, which is a crime, I will add. And so the administration and the president have taken a very strong stance against anyone who leaks, especially sensitive and classified information that can put our troops and our war fighters at risk,” Leavitt said.
Hegseth commented on the media’s attempt “to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations” from the White House lawn on Monday.
🚨 Secretary Pete Hegseth just spent 90 seconds absolutely FILLETING the fake news media
“What a big surprise! A few leakers get fired and a few hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax!”
“This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from… pic.twitter.com/6TJRQEDyna
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 21, 2025
Parnell also minced no words in a statement defending Hegseth.
“Another day, another old story—back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda,” he said, accusing the “fake news” outlets of airing the “grievances of disgruntled former employees.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
4/20/25STATEMENT:
Another day, another old story—back from the dead. The Trump-hating media continues to be obsessed with destroying anyone committed to President Trump’s agenda. This time, the New York Times — and all other Fake News that repeat their…
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) April 21, 2025
“They relied only on the words of people who were fired this week and appear to have a motive to sabotage the Secretary and the President’s agenda,” Parnell added.
