Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Includes Wife in Sensitive Military Meetings

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under scrutiny after reports surfaced that he brought his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, to two high-level meetings with foreign military officials, raising concerns about national security protocols. This revelation comes amid ongoing investigations into the use of the encrypted messaging app Signal by Trump administration officials, who allegedly communicated military plans, including sensitive discussions about airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Wall Street Journal reported on March 28, 2025, that Hegseth attended a meeting with U.K. Secretary of Defense John Healey at the Pentagon on March 6, where discussions included the U.S. decision to withdraw from sharing military intelligence with Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. A second meeting was reportedly held at NATO headquarters in Brussels in February, focusing on support for Ukraine. Sources indicated that some foreign attendees at these meetings were unaware of Jennifer Hegseth’s identity, prompting questions about her presence in discussions typically reserved for individuals with security clearances due to their sensitive nature.

In light of the Signal chat leak, which involved officials including Vice President JD Vance and national security adviser Mike Waltz, Hegseth has faced calls for resignation. Critics argue that including a non-official in such critical meetings poses a significant national security risk. Hegseth has publicly refuted claims regarding the Signal communications, insisting that “nobody was texting war plans.” Waltz also criticized journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who reported on the Signal exchange, labeling him as “the bottom scum of journalists.”

Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a Republican who served under President Barack Obama, commented on the matter, stating, “When you have meetings with ministers or high-level NATO officials, those meetings almost always include sensitive security conversations.” He emphasized the importance of being selective about attendees when discussing top-secret national security issues.

In response to the Wall Street Journal’s inquiries, Department of Defense spokesperson Sean Parnell suggested that the report would be filled with inaccuracies and questioned the good faith of the reporting.

Political reactions have been swift. Tennessee Democrat Chris D. Jackson called for Hegseth’s resignation on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “No clearance. No job. Massive national security breach.” Conversely, conservative commentator Bill Kristol criticized the administration’s approach, remarking, “Waltz invites Jeffrey Goldberg to join a highly sensitive text chain; Hegseth invites his wife to sit in on highly sensitive meetings. It’s just a friendly, welcoming, inclusive administration.”

President Trump has indicated a desire to investigate the incident further, tasking Waltz with following up on the matter.