WSJ: Hegset brought his wife to meetings where confidential information was discussed
Pete and Jennifer Hegseth (Photo: Ron Sachs/EPA)
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing scrutiny for revealing details of a military operation in Yemen during a Signal group chat. He brought his wife to two meetings with international military counterparts where sensitive matters were addressed, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources who were either present or knowledgeable about the discussions.
One of the gatherings, a high-level conversation at the Pentagon on March 6 involving Hegseth and British Defense Secretary John Healy, occurred at a delicate moment for NATO, just a day after the U.S. announced it had ceased sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
The meeting took place at the Pentagon and included the commander of the British Armed Forces, Tony Radakin. Discussions revolved around the U.S.’s justification for its decision, alongside future military collaboration among the allies.
As per the report, the Pentagon chief has the authority to invite anyone to meetings with his colleagues, although the list of attendees is typically restricted. Participants are usually granted special permissions due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Sources indicated that Jennifer Hegseth is not an employee of the Defense Department. While it is not unusual for spouses of high-ranking officials to hold low-level security clearances, a Pentagon representative refrained from commenting on whether the secretary’s wife possesses such clearance.
The Pentagon chief’s spouse also attended a “Ramstein” meeting at NATO’s Brussels headquarters last month, where allies deliberated their support for Ukraine, according to two individuals familiar with the situation.
In private discussions, attendees frequently share confidential information, such as contributions to Ukraine, that they prefer to keep out of the public eye, the sources observed.
Some foreign attendees were unaware of who Jennifer Hegseth was, as per individuals acquainted with both meetings. Others were taken aback by her presence but proceeded without objection, they noted. It remains unclear whether her attendance impacted the discussions at either meeting, the journalists reported.
Current and former defense officials assert that civilian spouses rarely participate in national security meetings.
“When engaging in meetings with NATO ministers or senior officials, those discussions almost invariably involve sensitive security matters,” remarked former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell responded to a request for comment by stating, “It’s evident to me that your article will be rife with inaccuracies and not written in good faith.” He did not specify what inaccuracies he was referring to.
- On March 24, 2025, it was revealed that journalist Goldberg accessed a Signal group chat that included senior Trump administration officials discussing U.S. plans for strikes against terrorists in Yemen.
- The Pentagon’s head labeled the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic a “liar” and denied the chat correspondence.
- On March 26, The Atlantic published further messages from the Signal group chat detailing the attack on Yemen.
- The Senate has initiated a call for an independent investigation following the data leak.
