President Donald Trump said Sunday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not going anywhere after being part of the same unsecured text chain that got National Security Advisor Mike Waltz ousted from his job last week.
Waltz was removed after reportedly starting a Signal group chat where sensitive information was shared. Other factors that annoyed Trump also reportedly played a role in his removal.
The former Army Special Forces officer has since been nominated by Trump to serve as US ambassador to the United Nations.
Asked by NBC’s Kristen Welker on Meet the Press if the move was a kind of punishment for Waltz, Trump said no.
“I just think he’ll do a nice job in the new position. Mike is a fine guy,” Trump said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is filling in as acting national security advisor, which Trump told Welker was temporary.
“Marco’s very busy doing other things, so he’s not going to keep it long term,” he said.
Welker then asked about Hegseth’s involvement in the Signal thread, where multiple Trump cabinet officials discussed military strikes in Yemen in March:
WELKER: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, obviously also on that unsecure text chain. He was sharing sensitive information. Are you looking for a new secretary of defense, Mr. President?
TRUMP: No. Not even a little bit. No. Pete’s going to be great. We’re —
WELKER: His job is safe right now?
TRUMP: We’re doing a fantastic job against the Houthis, who like blowing ships up and watching them sink in the ocean. We’re hitting them very hard. No, he’s doing a very good job.
WELKER: His job is safe right now?
TRUMP: Totally safe.
Jeffrey Goldberg with The Atlantic was mistakenly added to the group text, along with Waltz, Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and other members of the administration.
Trump has downplayed the controversy as “fake news.”
Watch above via NBC News.