Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries is demanding Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth “be fired immediately” following a leaked group chat that included plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified secretary of defense in American history,” Jeffries wrote in a letter to President Trump on Tuesday. “His continued presence in the top position of leadership at the Pentagon threatens the nation’s security and puts our brave men and women in uniform throughout the world in danger.”
In keeping with Jeffries, the “so-called” secretary of protection acted “recklessly and casually” when he mentioned express particulars of delicate battle plans in an unsecure group chat that “inexplicably” included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
“His behavior shocks the conscience, risked American lives and likely violated the law,” the Brooklyn congressman wrote. “Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should be fired immediately.”
Jeffries’ letter comes a day after a bombshell report in The Atlantic titled “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.” In it, Goldberg detailed a gaggle chat on the messaging app Sign, wherein a navy assault plan towards the Houthis was mentioned mere hours earlier than being carried out on March 15.
“I could not believe that the national security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans,” Goldberg wrote. “I have never seen a breach quite like this.”
The chat reportedly included high-level Trump officers like Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Nationwide Safety Advisor Michael Waltz.
Goldberg claimed he was invited to the chat by Waltz — an allegation that was denied on Tuesday. Waltz mentioned he has “never communicated” with the Atlantic editor and that a evaluate is underway to determine “how the heck he got into this room.”
Regardless of Nationwide Safety Council and Protection Division officers confirming the chat’s veracity, the White Home, Hegseth and different Republicans have tried to downplay the report. Throughout a Senate Intelligence Committee listening to Tuesday, Gabbard refused to verify her participation within the chat and mentioned its contents weren’t categorised, a sentiment echoed by Ratcliffe moments later.
Trump additionally denied safety protocols had been violated, whereas defending Waltz and slamming Goldberg as a “sleazebag.”
“I think it was very unfair the way they attacked Michael,” he mentioned on the White Home. “They’ve made a big deal out of this because we’ve had two perfect months.”
Previous to his affirmation, Hegseth was accused of rape and significantly abusing alcohol. He was confirmed to his present place by the GOP Senate in January.
Initially Printed: March 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM EDT
