In a show of support, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following a series of alarming reports regarding sensitive information shared over the messaging app Signal. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt conveyed this support on April 21, emphasizing that Trump stands firmly behind Hegseth.

Recent revelations revealed that Hegseth disclosed crucial security details about a March military operation against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a group chat that included his family and personal lawyer. This situation escalates just as investigations into internal leaks at the Pentagon lead to significant staff changes.

"The president absolutely has confidence in Secretary Hegseth. I spoke to him about it this morning, and he stands behind him," Leavitt assured reporters.

This alarming disclosure marks the second time Hegseth has been reported using an unclassified channel for sensitive discussions. The latest chat, reportedly not intended for military planning, included around twelve participants, including Hegseth's brother, a liaison to the Pentagon.

Leavitt confirmed that at no point did Hegseth share classified information within these chats, aiming to quell concerns surrounding the leaks.

In a recent statement, Hegseth expressed unity with the president, stating, "I have spoken to the president, and we are going to continue fighting on the same page all the way."

The situation intensified after the sudden exit of Dan Caldwell, a key adviser to Hegseth, who was removed from the Pentagon amid the investigation. Caldwell had previously played a pivotal role in Hegseth’s operations, raising alarms about the implications for the Secretary's inner circle.

Expressing his frustration on social media, Caldwell remarked, "We are incredibly disappointed by the manner in which our service at the Department of Defense ended," adding that he faced unfounded accusations from unnamed Pentagon officials.

Following Caldwell's dismissal, additional staff members, including Hegseth's new deputy chief of staff, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, a former chief of staff for another high-ranking official, were also placed on administrative leave and subsequently fired.