Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Calling Out Secretary Pete Hegseth For Putting The Lives Of American Troops At Risk With Signalgate

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after the Pentagon watchdog released a report that found Hegseth put the lives of American troops at risk by sharing sensitive information to a Signal group chat. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today, a Pentagon watchdog will release a new report on Signalgate finding that Secretary Hegseth put the lives of American troops at risk by sharing sensitive operational information on a group chat, in flagrant disregard of security protocols. Secretary Hegseth put the lives of American troops at risk.

The conclusion that this report points to is damning: the Secretary of Defense's lack of judgement put the lives of our troops in danger. And instead of accepting responsibility for his mistakes, as any real leader would do, the Secretary has remained defiant, has mocked this incident, and tried to label this as a witch hunt-a witch hunt.

Pete Hegseth has a clear M.O.: he puts himself first at the expense of our men and women in uniform. And when he screws up, he tries to hide the truth. That's his M.O.-putting himself first and then hiding the truth.

This new report, just like the boat strikes in the Caribbean, point to a growing pattern: when Pete Hegseth has the chance to make himself look good or look tough, he'll talk a big game and try to seem tough. He'll go on TV and make big speeches. But when he makes mistakes or faces any adversity, he throws others under the bus without a second thought. This guy does not belong as Secretary of Defense. In his ten months on the job, Pete Hegseth has demonstrated clear defects of character that we cannot afford in a Secretary of Defense.

I ask my Republican colleagues: how can we trust this man to keep our troops safe, when its clear he isn't able to even keep sensitive information safe? How can we trust the word of a man who will change his story, or shift blame, or hide the truth at the drop of a hat? The answer is that we cannot.

Pete Hegseth is not qualified to serve as Secretary of Defense. Our brave troops deserve better.

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