Pete Hegseth, Trump’s handpicked Secretary of Defense, promised to clean up the military—but his latest moves are making Americans wonder if he should have ever been trusted with the job. From a major security breach to allegations of nepotism, Hegseth is quickly becoming a liability for the Trump administration.
A National Security Nightmare?
Hegseth, who reportedly struggled with alcohol in the past, swore off drinking to secure his powerful position. But instead of knocking back drinks, critics say he’s been making reckless decisions that could put American lives at risk.
His first major misstep? The now-infamous Signalgate scandal. The Secretary of Defense allegedly texted top-secret military attack plans—on an unsecured messaging app—to high-ranking security officials. The kicker? A journalist was on the chat and saw everything.
Even worse, cybersecurity experts warn that foreign adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran were likely monitoring the app, meaning America’s enemies may have had a front-row seat to classified U.S. military strategies. Hillary Clinton didn’t mince words, calling it “stupidity.” Now, Democrats are demanding an investigation, questioning whether Hegseth was under the influence when he sent those messages.
Family First, Merit Second?
If that wasn’t enough, reports surfaced that Hegseth hired his own brother, a former podcaster, to a top Pentagon position. This is the same Pete Hegseth who vowed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the armed forces, insisting that all hiring be based on “merit.”
MSNBC host and former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele wasted no time calling out the hypocrisy, tweeting, “Another DEI hire. In other words, [Hegseth] hired his brother to be his travel guide. Nepotism much?”
Bringing His Wife Into the War Room
Just when it seemed the controversies couldn’t pile up any higher, The Wall Street Journal dropped another bombshell: Hegseth invited his wife, Jennifer Rauchet—a former Fox News producer—to at least two high-level meetings with foreign military officials where sensitive national security topics were discussed.
One of those meetings, held at the Pentagon on March 6, was with the U.K. Secretary of Defense and Britain’s top military commander. According to insiders, the discussion covered America’s recent decision to cut off military intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a major diplomatic flashpoint.
Typically, only those with a need-to-know security clearance are allowed in such classified discussions. But Rauchet, who is not a Defense Department employee, was inexplicably present. When pressed about whether she even has a security clearance, the Pentagon declined to comment. Rauchet, for her part, didn’t respond to questions.
Chaos Inside Trump’s Inner Circle
Hegseth isn’t the only Trump official raising eyebrows with security slip-ups. Former GOP speechwriter Bill Kristol mocked the administration’s carelessness on Twitter/X, writing: “[National Security Advisor Mike] Waltz invites Jeffrey Goldberg to join a highly sensitive text chain, Hegseth invites his wife to sit in on highly sensitive meetings. It’s just a friendly, welcoming, inclusive administration.”
With so many scandals swirling, Americans are left wondering: Is Pete Hegseth the right person to oversee America’s military? And what does it say about Trump’s judgment that he put him in charge in the first place?
