The White House has refuted a report from NPR suggesting that President Donald Trump is seeking to replace Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. The controversy comes in the wake of ongoing leaks concerning sensitive military information, with the Trump administration defending Hegseth and slamming the media’s portrayal of the issue.
NPR Report Sparks Denial from the White House
On April 21, NPR published an exclusive report citing an anonymous U.S. official who claimed that the White House had begun looking for a new Secretary of Defense. This report followed weeks of media attention surrounding alleged information leaks from Hegseth, specifically involving his communications about military strikes in Yemen.
However, the report was quickly challenged by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who called it “fake news” on social media. In her statement, she emphasised that the source quoted by NPR lacked credibility and that President Trump continues to support Hegseth.
“As the President said this morning, he stands strongly behind @SecDef,” Leavitt wrote, further dismissing the report as inaccurate.
The claims made by NPR were linked to recent leaks of sensitive military discussions involving Hegseth. Earlier in the month, The New York Times reported that Hegseth had allegedly shared details of a March airstrike against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen with his wife and brother via Signal, a secure messaging app.
This incident followed an earlier leak involving The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to a group chat discussing military operations.
Leaks Spark Media Frenzy and White House Pushback
The recent allegations of leaks have brought renewed attention to the issue of classified information within the Trump administration. These incidents are particularly concerning for the White House, as they suggest a breach of security protocols involving sensitive military operations.
The Trump administration has long been critical of media coverage it deems unfavourable. Leavitt’s response echoed the administration’s broader stance on the issue, with the White House taking aim at outlets like NPR, calling them a “fake news propaganda machine.”
Trump’s administration has also sought to cut federal funding for both NPR and PBS, a move that aligns with its ongoing criticism of public broadcasting.
Despite these challenges, Hegseth’s supporters maintain that the allegations do not reflect his leadership at the Pentagon. In an appearance at the White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth himself downplayed the leaks, framing them as part of a broader attack on his efforts to reform the military.
