Minnesota, Nebraska Democrats Call for Defense Secretary Hegseth's Ouster

Democratic lawmakers, particularly from Minnesota, are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign or be fired after reports surfaced that he shared sensitive U.S. military operational details in private Signal chats with family members and associates. Critics, including Rep. Betty McCollum and Sen. Tina Smith, argue that Hegseth’s actions have jeopardized national security and reflect a lack of qualification for his role. Republican Rep. Don Bacon has also broken with his party to urge President Trump to remove Hegseth, describing the alleged sharing of information as unacceptable and a security risk, especially given the threat of foreign surveillance. The Department of Defense, however, has denied that classified information was disclosed in these chats, with spokesperson Sean Parnell stating there was no classified content involved. Despite the mounting bipartisan criticism, President Trump and some Republican officials continue to defend Hegseth and dismiss the allegations as unfounded. The controversy has intensified scrutiny over how senior officials handle sensitive military information and raised questions about accountability at the Pentagon.