If you thought Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on the verge of being fired, think again. Despite two separate instances of leaking military war plans via unsecured Signal chats, despite rising dysfunction at the Pentagon, and despite mounting bipartisan outrage, Hegseth still has his job. And if you understand Donald Trump, that’s not surprising at all.
Let’s break this down.
Hegseth’s Leaks: A Timeline of Chaos
The latest reporting reveals that Hegseth created a private Signal group chat where he once again shared classified military plans. Unlike the first incident—where he accidentally included the editor of The Atlantic—this time he deliberately invited his wife, brother, personal attorney, and a dozen close confidants. No one involved had any official clearance to view sensitive military intel.
He used a private phone, not a government-issued one, and shared high-level war planning without any oversight. In short, this was a flagrant violation of protocol. The Pentagon is reeling.
According to Politico, one former official bluntly stated, “It’s hard to see [him] remaining in his role for much longer.”
But is it?
Under Trump, Scandal Means Loyalty
Here’s the thing—under a normal president, sure, Hegseth would’ve been gone yesterday. But Trump isn’t a normal president. And this isn’t a normal administration.
John Stoehr at Raw Story nailed it: Trump thrives on incompetence—as long as it’s loyal incompetence. Hegseth’s boneheaded moves aren’t a liability in Trump’s eyes; they’re proof that he’s not one of the so-called “deep state.” In fact, his recklessness signals that he’ll do anything Trump asks—no questions, no moral hesitation.
And that’s all Trump needs.
An autocratic-style leader doesn’t see scandals as disqualifying. There are no standards to which he feels accountable. The only thing that matters is, will this person do what I want? Will they protect me? Will they be loyal when it matters most?
Trump and Hegseth Fire Back
Naturally, the White House is dismissing all of it as “fake news.” When questioned, Trump said this:
“It’s just fake news. They just bring up stories. It sounds like disgruntled employees… You don’t always have friends when you get rid of bad people.”
And Hegseth? He’s brushing it all off too:
“What a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out… Not going to work with me.”
The playbook is familiar now: deny, attack the media, dismiss all accountability.
Dysfunction at the Pentagon
Meanwhile, insiders are sounding alarms.
Former Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot told Politico that the department under Hegseth has been mired in “dysfunction, backstabbing, and continuous missteps.” Mass firings, leadership turmoil, and even more leaks have left America’s military command dangerously unstable.
Even if Trump wants to keep Hegseth, the White House may eventually have to cave to pressure. NPR just reported that a replacement search may already be quietly underway—though, true to form, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called that “fake news” too.
So which is it?
The Bigger Picture: Why Hegseth Might Stay
Despite all this chaos, Trump is getting exactly what he wants out of Hegseth: obedience, chaos, and a defense department he can mold to his will.
Remember, this is a president who has never prioritized competence. What he values most is loyalty—especially the kind of loyalty that puts him above the law. And that means people like Hegseth, whose recklessness ironically makes them more dependent on Trump for political survival, are perfect allies.
In Trump’s world, foolishness is a feature, not a bug.
Final Thought
If you’re still expecting Trump to “do the right thing,” you’re stuck in a 2016 mindset. This isn’t a meritocracy. This is a cult of personality. And in that world, the worst thing you can do is think for yourself.
So, no, Pete Hegseth isn’t going anywhere. And that tells us a lot more about Trump than it does about Hegseth.
