Because Trump clearly likes and has publicly exonerated Hegseth, “you’re not going to hear a huge public outcry [over the Signal chat scandal],” said a senior GOP official on Capitol Hill who is close to the White House. “But, privately, there is a lot of concern about his judgment, more than with Waltz.”
Politico
For Christ's sake, he has zero qualifications for the job he has as it is. Concern about his judgment? Where was that when they confirmed his appointment? His reputation was pretty shit back then. Did they think he'd magically grow some better judgment? He promised not to drink on the job. That was the only thing standing in his way?
Officials agree national security adviser Mike Waltz, who accidentally invited a journalist to a group chat with senior leaders, could more easily take the fall for a scandal that has embarrassed the administration — which may end up sparing Hegseth his job.
But Republican hawks, Pentagon officials and even some inside the White House now believe Hegseth also messed up by sending likely classified details from his phone.
[...]
Even for a Pentagon chief who has copied Trump’s pugilistic style — down to his Sharpie signature and campaign-style videos — Hegseth’s growing pile of mistakes are getting noticed, according to four officials and two people in touch with the administration.
“The problem is this is another example of inexperience,” said a person close to the White House, who like others, was granted anonymity to discuss a politically sensitive issue. “What happens when Hegseth needs to manage a real crisis?”
You tell me, dumbass.
Hegseth addressed the issue briefly Wednesday during a weeklong Asia trip. The information in the messages, “doesn’t look like war plans,” he said. “You know who sees war plans? I see them. Every single day.”
Really? How many countries are targeted in these daily war plans?
Senate Armed Services Committee leaders have launched a bipartisan probe into the episode.
“Intentionally putting classified info on an unclassified application is the real crime,” Rep. Dan Bacon, a Nebraska Republican and retired Air Force brigadier general, wrote in an X post.
But most top GOP lawmakers continue to publicly defend the Pentagon chief.
“No one needs to lose their job over this, but we do need to get to the bottom of it and just be assured it’s not going to happen anymore,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a Trump ally.
And how will you know unless someone accidentally invites a journalist to listen in again?
Trump allies worry about another long battle in the Senate to replace [Hegseth]. And the Pentagon leader has largely followed the president’s own playbook, issuing angry attacks on the journalist to a pool of reporters that mostly included friendly conservative media and foreign outlets.
[...]
Democrats are skeptical that Trump will punish anyone.
“It’s part of the Trump administration ethos,” said Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. “There are no rules, there are no standards, there is no truth, there is no accountability."
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