Pete Hegseth was blasted by analysts and critic Stephen A. Smith, particularly in light of the issues he is facing right now with mishandling sensitive information involving national security.
In one of his videos, Stephen A. Smith criticized US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and referenced the issues thrown towards former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I want to rewind the clock about nine years when the whole Hillary Clinton thing was going down right prior to the election,” Smith recalled. “Listen to Pete Hath talk about Hillary Clinton at that particular moment in time. This is Pete Hexet and we are quoting any security professional, military, government, or otherwise would be fired on the spot and criminally prosecuted for being so reckless with this kind of information.’”
“Say what? He actually said that. Yes, he did. He most certainly said that.”
With these things said, Smith drew parallels to the accusations thrown at Clinton years ago to the issues Hegseth is facing right now.
“This man, who is the defense secretary for the United States of America, who got busted exchanging information of national security importance about the hoodies in Yemen ultimately scheduled to be bombed. That same dude said that about Hillary Clinton.”
“So that doesn’t apply to you now, huh, sir? Not at all. I mean, you’re just completely innocent in all this.”
Pete Hegseth Blasted Over “Signalgate” Controversy
The “Signalgate” controversy involving Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, has raised serious concerns about national security and leadership accountability. The scandal erupted when it was revealed that Hegseth used the Signal messaging app on his personal phone to discuss sensitive military operations, including war plans against the Houthis in Yemen.
The group chat, which included his wife, personal lawyer, and other unauthorized individuals, exposed classified information to potential security risks. Critics argue that Hegseth’s actions violated established protocols for handling classified material, which prohibit the use of personal devices for such communications.
The controversy deepened when screenshots of the Signal chat were leaked, showing discussions about missile strikes, launch times, and even the name of an undercover CIA officer. The leak, inadvertently caused by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, added fuel to the fire, as it highlighted a dangerous double standard in how high-ranking officials handle sensitive information compared to ordinary military personnel.
Pete Hegseth’s response to the scandal, described as a “horrible crisis-communications strategy,” further damaged his credibility, with critics accusing him of downplaying the severity of the breach.
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Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
