Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing backlash online after dodging questions about the leaked Signal chat controversy during a tense Easter event interview, prompting comparisons to a "busted teenager" and sparking further speculation.
While attending the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday morning, Hegseth was approached by reporters about a report by the New York Times regarding a second alleged Signal leak. Hegseth proceeded to launch a tirade against the media, accusing them of recycling narratives and relying on anonymous sources.
.@SecDef Hegseth on "Signal chat controversy": "What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, won't give back their Pulitzers, they got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies ... This is what… pic.twitter.com/qYH8O98EtX
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 21, 2025
The defense secretary's evasive tone and tense demeanor immediately drew attention, with social media users mocking his body language.
"That body language though...worse than a teenager caught by his parents. Clearly agitated and knows he's busted," one user commented.
That body language though…worse than a teenager caught by his parents. Clearly agitated and knows he’s busted. Wonder if he’s drinking again?
— RJ (@RJ_was_H3re) April 21, 2025
The voice crack at 00:32 is just *chefs kiss*
— Arturo 𓂀 (@mistertoybox) April 21, 2025
The deflection only fueled online speculation, with critics stating "that's not a denial," on terms of Hegseth's response about involvement in the leaked chats. The video clip quickly went viral, igniting a flurry of commentary questioning his credibility.
Soooooo that's not a denial. https://t.co/GFmlce0ptt
— Alex Drake (@Drakeycakes) April 21, 2025
Is the Russian “hoax” in the room with you right now?
— Eli (@EliStrawmaning) April 21, 2025
With scrutiny intensifying, Hegseth may now face continued pressure to clarify his role in the messaging group and the nature of the leaks.
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