In a live interview on Tuesday, Fox News host Brian Kilmeade made an embarrassing mistake by calling Pete Hegseth, the current Secretary of Defense, the “former secretary.”
Brian Kilmeade begins his interview this morning with Pete Hegseth by calling Pete the “former secretary” pic.twitter.com/K6SgGlnXPa
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 22, 2025
This slip-up happened right before Hegseth defended himself against growing concerns surrounding leaked military information. This on-air mix-up has only added fuel to the fire about Hegseth’s already troubled position in the Trump administration.
Pete Hegseth, who formerly co-hosted “Fox & Friends” on weekends, has been in the spotlight recently due to serious accusations. He has been accused of sharing sensitive military information with individuals outside the government using the encrypted messaging app, Signal. One of the most shocking revelations was that Hegseth shared military strike plans against the Houthis in Yemen with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Although Hegseth claimed the information was “unclassified,” the fact that he shared such sensitive details raised many concerns.
The slip-up by Kilmeade wasn’t the only thing making headlines. During the interview, Hegseth was questioned about his involvement in the Pentagon’s ongoing investigation into leaks. Recently, three of Hegseth’s former aides were fired after they were accused of leaking information to the press. The aides were placed on administrative leave before being let go, but they claimed they had not been properly questioned or investigated. They expressed disappointment over how they were treated during the investigation.
Despite these claims, Hegseth stood by the Pentagon’s investigation, stressing that leaks at the Department of Defense were a serious issue. “We take it very seriously,” Hegseth said. “We’re going to investigate, and when we investigate, we’ll take it anywhere it leads.” He made it clear that if the investigation found any wrongdoing, those responsible would be held accountable and prosecuted.
The leak investigation is being handled by special investigators at the Department of Defense, with the goal of uncovering who is behind the leaks of sensitive information to the press. Hegseth made it clear that the department would not tolerate leaks and would take action if necessary. “We don’t think leaks are OK at this department,” he said. “And if those people are exonerated? Fantastic.”
However, Hegseth’s actions have raised more questions. His past as a Fox News host has led many to wonder if he used his media connections to share information that should have stayed private. The timing of his leaks, along with his approach to handling them, has caused concern.
Hegseth has insisted that the information he shared was unclassified, but that doesn’t mean it was okay to send it to non-government individuals.
Even unclassified information should be handled with care, particularly when it involves national security. Trust and responsibility are crucial when handling sensitive details, and many believe Hegseth may have crossed a line.
Featured image via Screengrab
