1 month ago
2
Critics mockingly poked holes in Fox News personality-turned-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest security clearances claim.
“I’m offended” by “this idea that I don’t take classification or I don’t take clearances seriously,” Hegseth told Fox News’ Will Cain in an interview that aired Monday.
“Nobody takes it more seriously than me,” the top Donald Trump Cabinet official insisted to his one-time colleague at the conservative network.
Cain, who made no effort to challenge Hegseth, had teed up the moment by calling the Signal messaging app controversies ― which saw Hegseth share sensitive military information in a group chat to which a journalist had been accidentally added, and also reportedly share intel with another group including his wife and brother ― as “nothing scandals.”
Watch from the 11-minute mark here:
Social media users flagged the disconnect of Hegseth’s claim:
Hegseth: "There's a reason why our nation's most closely held secrets are contained in certain places with only access from certain people. Nobody takes that more seriously than me." pic.twitter.com/9qUUmD0Y18
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 19, 2025I know! That’s what he told me on Signal!
— Cork Off! (@CorkYou) May 19, 2025Says the guy who’s been caught twice not following the most basic opsec
— Ryan 🇺🇸 (@RYANISREAL87) May 19, 202520 Years Of Free Journalism
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Starting now?
— Spark After Dark (@SparkdaPhilly) May 19, 2025Signalgate, anyone?
— Buffy Summers (@MelodyJean1962) May 19, 2025Are those certain places Signal chats?
— Terrance. (@ExscapeVelozity) May 19, 2025
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