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Hegseth maintains White House backing amid ‘smear campaign’ alleging likely ouster
The White House is steadfast in its support for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth amid media reports regarding his imminent ouster.
Hegseth has attracted scrutiny once more in recent weeks after the New York Times reported Sunday that he disclosed details about a March military airstrike in Yemen against the Houthis in a Signal messaging app group chat that included his wife, brother and lawyer – about a dozen people in total – on a personal phone before his confirmation. Hegseth maintains that no classified information was disclosed over Signal.
The incident follows a similar episode in March, where the Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was included on a Signal group chat with other high-ranking Trump administration officials, including Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, discussing the same attack on the Houthis. National security advisor Mike Waltz later took «full responsibility» for that chat blunder.
But the White House says it supports Hegseth, and argued he’s faced a «smear campaign» since Trump tapped him for the post in December 2024.
DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH REBUFFS NEW GROUP CHAT ALLEGATIONS AS ATTEMPT TO ‘SABOTAGE’ TRUMP’S AGENDA
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has come under scrutiny amid a new report about his use of a Signal chat, which included his wife and brother, to discuss airstrikes. (Franco Brana/AFP via Getty Images)
«The secretary of defense is doing a tremendous job, and he is bringing monumental change to the Pentagon, and there’s a lot of people in the city who reject monumental change, and I think, frankly, that’s why we’ve seen a smear campaign against the secretary of defense since the moment that President Trump announced his nomination before the United States Senate,» White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday.
«Let me reiterate: the president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth and the change that he is bringing to the Pentagon, and the results that he’s achieved thus far speak for themselves,» Leavitt said.
Hegseth has received backlash ever since Trump announced his nomination to lead the Pentagon, especially after allegations of sexual assault and alcohol misuse surfaced. In response, Hegseth told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing that he is not a «perfect person,» but asserted that he was the subject of a «coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media.»
Ultimately, no Democrats voted to confirm Hegseth. In contrast, only one Democrat voted against Trump’s first secretary of defense in 2016, retired Marine Corps Gen. Jim Mattis.
Hegseth has spearheaded multiple reforms, including a series of efforts to curb diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the Pentagon that he says are in accordance with executive orders from the Trump administration.
NPR reported Monday that the White House was eyeing a new secretary of defense, but Leavitt shut down the report immediately, labeling the report «fake news.» The NPR story was based on one anonymous U.S. official not authorized to speak to the media.
Meanwhile, Hegseth has maintained that the second Signal chat, like his first, did not include «war plans,» and that all discussions conducted over Signal were unclassified. Included in the group chat were Hegseth’s brother, Phil, who works at the Pentagon as a Department of Homeland Security liaison and senior advisor, according to the Associated Press. The defense secretary’s longtime personal attorney, Tim Parlatore, who was commissioned as a Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps commander right before the Signal chat, was also included, according to the Times report.
«I said repeatedly, nobody is texting war plans,» Hegseth told Fox News Tuesday. «I look at war plans every day. What was shared over Signal then and now, however you characterize it, was informal, unclassified coordinations, for media coordinations and other things. That’s what I’ve said from the beginning.»
Meanwhile, even some in Hegseth’s orbit predict that he will not remain in his post for much longer.
John Ullyot, a former senior communications official for the Pentagon who resigned in April under Hegseth, wrote that the abrupt Friday firings of three of Hegseth’s «most loyal» advisors – his aide Dan Caldwell, his deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and chief of staff to the deputy defense secretary, Colin Carroll – were alarming and «baffling.»
«The dysfunction is now a major distraction for the president – who deserves better from his senior leadership,» Ullyot wrote in a Sunday op-ed for Politico.
«Trump has a strong record of holding his top officials to account,» he wrote. «Given that, it’s hard to see Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remaining in his role for much longer.»
Caldwell and Selnick were included in the second Hegseth group chat, according to the Times.
HEGSETH SHARED DETAILS OF YEMEN STRIKES IN SECOND SIGNAL CHAT: REPORT
Sen. Jack Reed is calling for an investigation into Hegseth’s use of Signal. (Reuters)
Senate Democrats are also clamoring for Hegseth to resign. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member, asked the Pentagon’s inspector general to conduct a report into Hegseth’s use of the Signal chat.
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«Since he was nominated, I have warned that Mr. Hegseth lacks the experience, competence, and character to run the Department of Defense,» Reed said in a Sunday statement. «In light of the ongoing chaos, dysfunction, and mass firings under Mr. Hegseth’s leadership, it seems that those objections were well-founded.»
«Accountability starts at the top, and I have grave concerns about Secretary Hegseth’s ability to maintain the trust and confidence of U.S. service members,» he stated.
White House,U.S. Defense & Military Politics,Secretary of Defense,MILITARY,Pentagon
INTERNACIONAL
Canadá evaluó su posible participación militar en la guerra de Irán: “Nunca se puede descartar categóricamente”
El primer ministro de Canadá, Mark Carney, afirmó que no podría descartar la participación militar de su país en la creciente guerra en Medio Oriente.
En una visita a Australia, marcada por la expansión del conflicto tras el ataque estadounidense-israelí que abatió al líder supremo iraní, Ali Khamenei, Carney fue consultado en Canberra junto al primer ministro local, Anthony Albanese, sobre la posibilidad de una intervención canadiense.
“Nunca se puede descartar categóricamente la participación”, declaró Carney, aunque calificó la cuestión de “hipotética”. En ese sentido, afirmó que Canadá apoyará a sus aliados e hizo hincapié en que “siempre defenderá a los canadienses” en primer lugar.
El líder del Partido Liberal canadiense calificó previamente los ataques contra Irán como “incompatibles con el derecho internacional”, pero expresó su respaldo a los esfuerzos para impedir que el régimen iraní obtenga armas nucleares, posición que adoptó “con pesar” al considerarla un reflejo del fracaso del orden internacional.
Carney reiteró su llamado a la “desescalada” del conflicto. Su viaje por Asia y el Pacífico busca reducir la dependencia de Estados Unidos y fortalecer lazos con otros países de “potencia media”. En el Parlamento australiano, instó a estas naciones a cooperar para influir en las nuevas reglas del sistema internacional, advirtiendo que “las grandes potencias pueden obligar, pero la coacción tiene costos”.
El primer ministro anunció la unión de Canadá y Australia como “colaboradores estratégicos” para aprovechar sus recursos minerales de tierras raras y detalló acuerdos en defensa e inteligencia artificial. “Sabemos que debemos trabajar con otros que comparten nuestros valores para construir capacidades sólidas”, dijo, alertando sobre el riesgo de quedar “atrapados entre los hiperescaladores y los hegemones”.
El líder canadiense expresó el sábado pasado el respaldo de Canadá a los ataques lanzados por Estados Unidos e Israel contra el régimen ayatollah, al que calificó como “principal fuente de inestabilidad y terrorismo en todo Medio Oriente”.
En primer lugar, reafirmó, el mismo día que estalló el conflicto, “el derecho de Israel a defenderse y a garantizar la seguridad de su población”. “Canadá respalda la actuación de Estados Unidos para impedir que Irán obtenga un arma nuclear y para evitar que su régimen siga amenazando la paz y la seguridad internacionales”, sostuvo en un comunicado.
Carney subrayó que la posición de Canadá “sigue siendo clara”: “La República Islámica de Irán es la principal fuente de inestabilidad y terrorismo en todo Medio Oriente, tiene uno de los peores historiales de derechos humanos del mundo y nunca debe permitírsele obtener o desarrollar armas nucleares”.
Carney destacó que, pese a los intentos diplomáticos, Irán “no desmanteló por completo su programa nuclear, no ha detenido todas las actividades de enriquecimiento ni ha puesto fin a su apoyo a grupos terroristas regionales que actúan como fuerzas subsidiarias”.
Finalmente, el primer ministro manifestó su solidaridad con el pueblo iraní “en su larga y valiente lucha contra el régimen opresivo de Irán”.
Ese mismo día, el presidente de Francia, Emmanuel Macron, advirtió que la escalada en Medio Oriente es “peligrosa para todos”. En un mensaje publicado en X, el mandatario señaló que el “desencadenamiento de la guerra entre Estados Unidos, Israel e Irán tiene graves consecuencias para la paz y la seguridad internacional”.
“La escalada actual es peligrosa para todos. Debe cesar. El régimen iraní debe comprender que ya no le queda otra opción que entablar negociaciones de buena fe para poner fin a su programa nuclear y balístico, así como a sus acciones de desestabilización regional”, sostuvo Macron.
(Con información de AFP)
Domestic,Politics,North America,Government / Politics
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American stealth bombers are expected to land at U.K. military bases within days to join the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran, according to reports.
Citing unnamed senior Western officials, The Telegraph reported Wednesday that air bases at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire are being readied for the arrival of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers — the $2 billion strategic bomber is also known as the world’s most expensive aircraft.
The bombers are understood to be landing at the U.K. bases «in a matter of days» as Washington intensifies operations in the region, the outlet reported.
As previously reported by Fox News Digital, the U.S. military used stealth B-2 bombers to strike Iranian ballistic missile facilities Feb. 28 as part of the launch of Operation Epic Fury.
Diego Garcia is a strategic Indian Ocean base hosting 2,500 US military personnel. (Reuters)
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that B-2 stealth bombers, which were equipped with 2,000-pound bombs, struck Iranian «hardened» ballistic missile sites.
The U.S. was cleared to use British bases for limited strikes on Iran’s missile capabilities on Feb. 29 after Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed off on the plan, and while U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey stated Britain had «stepped up alongside the Americans.»
Starmer said the authorization was granted to protect U.K. and U.S. allies as the conflict escalated. He had previously said he would not allow American forces to use U.K. bases for offensive operations in the region.
Tensions have since been heightened in the U.K. by security incidents in Cyprus. RAF Akrotiri, a key British military base on the island, was struck by a suspected drone on March 2, causing minor damage.
IRAN’S DRONE SWARM ATTACKS UNLEASH ‘EXPONENTIAL COSTS’ ON US, PROLONGING WAR: ‘ASYMMETRIC CAPABILITY’
Several B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers are seen on a runway at the Whiteman Air Force Base. (Whiteman Air Force Base)
The unmanned aircraft was reported to resemble an Iranian-made Shahed drone, similar to models used by Russia in Ukraine and by Tehran’s regional proxies.
The Ministry of Defense said force-protection measures were at the «highest level» and that the base had taken steps to defend personnel. About 4,000 service members and their families are based at RAF Akrotiri.
The U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Cyprus to Level 3, urging Americans to reconsider travel because of the threat of armed conflict and limited consular assistance in parts of the country.
Non-emergency embassy staff and family members were authorized to leave. Officials said the advisory change reflected adjustments in embassy operations rather than a direct change in underlying risk.
EX-CENTCOM CHIEF DETAILS ‘EXQUISITE INTELLIGENCE’ BEHIND IRAN STRIKES, SAYS NEXT STEPS HINGE ON ‘MISSILE MATH’
President Donald Trump blasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer March 3, 2026, saying «this is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with,» amid a lack of support for the United States’ and Israel’s joint military operation against Iran. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images ; PA Images via Getty Images ; Jonathan Brady/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Trump had called Britain «uncooperative» and slammed Starmer as «not Winston Churchill» after Starmer initially rebuffed a U.S. request to use U.K. bases to attack Iran, according to The Associated Press.
Trump has also condemned Britain’s agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands, home to the Diego Garcia base, to Mauritius.
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Unearthed video shows Dem candidate supporting ‘reallocation’ of police funding to social service programs
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A Democrat running for Congress in one of the most competitive seats in the country once said she would combat systematic racism by redirecting law enforcement funding when asked if she would «defund the police» in 2020.
«I support the reallocation of funding to programs that would allow people to live their best lives,» JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine veteran, told the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and Arizona Capitol Times at a town hall event.
«Such as social service programs. Such as housing, public education, healthcare, ensuring that we are addressing economic stability and environmental safety.»
JoAnna Mendoza, a candidate for Congress, is running in one of the country’s most competitive races in 2026. (Joanna Mendoza for Congress/YouTube screenshot)
Mendoza, who is running to represent Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, denied ever supporting defunding the police, according to her campaign.
«Jo Mendoza has been on the record for years that police need MORE resources to do their jobs – not less – including body cameras and training. And she has repeatedly stated that she does not support defunding the police,» Mendoza’s campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
«Any other assertion is categorically false, a lie and a political smear from D.C. hacks hoping to save Juan Ciscomani from an early retirement,» the campaign said, referring to the GOP incumbent Mendoza is running against.
Mendoza did not clarify what she had meant by the 2020 statement. However, her campaign pointed to other comments she made in 2020.
«I do not support defunding the police. Police officers are being asked to do too much. They’re being asked to address issues because of the lack of resources in our communities,» Mendoza said in another virtual event that year.
The Republican National Committee slammed Mendoza in a statement to Fox News Digital.
«There’s no way for JoAnna Mendoza to spin her extreme anti-police views, and Arizonans will know that she sides with dangerous criminals over them,» Nick Poche, a spokesperson for the RNC, told Fox News Digital.
The «defund the police» platform, which at the time was championed by several progressive Democrats, has aged poorly, leading Republicans and Democrats to view mere mentions of the phrase as a political liability in 2026.
The movement first burst onto the scene through the outrage after the death of George Floyd, a Black Minnesota resident who died after a police arrest in which an officer pinned him to the ground by placing a knee on his neck for an extended period.
His death sparked an uproar in cities across the country over racism in law enforcement and whether police in America could do more to avoid violence during arrests.
DEMOCRATS WORRY ‘ABOLISH ICE’ SLOGAN WILL BACKFIRE POLITICALLY LIKE ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ DID
Demonstrators carry a banner during an «I Can’t Breathe» Silent March For Justice in Minneapolis March 7, 2021. (Emilie Richardson/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Although the outrage over Floyd eventually subsided, many of the calls to divert resources away from police persisted as a Democratic platform, leading some cities like Minneapolis and Austin, Texas, to reduce their police budgets.
However, the movement began to draw ire from Democrats who feared the party had taken a stance that could be considered at odds with community safety and worsen their odds at the ballot box.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., the House Majority Whip under U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in 2021, said the phrase was «cutting the throats of the party.»
«We keep making that mistake. This foolishness about you got to be this progressive or that progressive,» Clyburn said.
TENNESSEE CANDIDATE BLASTS DEM OPPONENT’S ‘UNACCEPTABLE’ TWEETS CALLING TO DISSOLVE NASHVILLE POLICE
Other Democratic strategists, such as James Carville, have also condemned the platform.
Carville called the slogan «the three stupidest words in the English language» in interviews in 2024 and went as far as suggesting the slogan could have led to the loss of Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid against Donald Trump.
«We could never wash off the stench of it,» Carville added.
TLAIB-BACKED SENATE CANDIDATE IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER DELETING ‘DEFUND THE POLICE’ SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
James Carville speaks onstage during Politicon at Music City Center in 2025. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Politicon)
Mendoza faces a tough race in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. Ciscomani, the seat’s current incumbent, narrowly won election in 2024 in a 50%-47.5% victory over Democrat challenger Kirsten Engel.
The district is listed among the Cook Political Report’s most competitive races in 2026, earning one of the 18 seats with a «toss-up» designation.
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Poche believes Mendoza’s previous comments have just made her bid against Ciscomani harder.
«If the Democrats think a defund-the-police radical can beat him, they’re just plain stupid,» Poche said.
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congress,police and law enforcement,politics,democrats elections,arizona,elections
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