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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly expressed his frustration towards a senior official he suspected of leaking classified information, issuing an aggressive threat regarding a polygraph test.
Details surrounding this incident were revealed by the Wall Street Journal, which highlighted Hegseth’s confrontation following concerns about a classified briefing he organized for Elon Musk regarding China. This briefing reportedly angered President Donald Trump, who was already wary of Musk’s business ties to China.
Fueled by rising tensions, Hegseth confronted Navy Admiral Christopher Grady, then acting chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a heated exchange, allegedly declaring, “I’ll hook you up to a fucking polygraph!” This outburst stemmed from Hegseth’s suspicion that Grady had leaked the news of the March 21 meeting. Despite Hegseth’s demands, Grady did not undergo the polygraph test, and Hegseth later directed similar threats at another official regarding the supposed breach.
The situation escalated as Hegseth faced scrutiny for sharing sensitive attack plans in a Signal group chat and in private conversations with close associates. This breach of protocol has raised serious concerns about his judgment and conduct in his role as defense secretary.
In response to the fallout, Hegseth suggested that some of his aides may have been responsible for the leaked stories, leading him to dismiss certain staff members. Furthermore, reports have surfaced indicating that Hegseth established a makeup studio within the Pentagon for televised appearances, drawing further negative attention to his actions.
The political repercussions of Hegseth’s behavior have been notable. At least one Republican congressman has called for his termination, and there are reports suggesting that the White House is already looking for a successor.
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