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One-sentence summary: David French argues that Pete Hegseth should resign from his post after reportedly leaking sensitive U.S. military strike plans in a group chat, a grave security breach that undermines trust and sets a dangerous precedent for military leadership.
In a striking op-ed, David French critiques Pete Hegseth, a senior Trump administration official, for allegedly leaking highly sensitive operational details about U.S. military strikes on Yemen. The leak was exposed through a report by The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat with top Trump officials, including Hegseth, J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Stephen Miller, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. Unaware of Goldberg’s presence, the group openly discussed the administration’s military strategy, including specific plans for upcoming attacks on Houthi rebels in the Red Sea region.
According to French, at 11:44 a.m. on March 15, the account attributed to Hegseth disclosed target locations, weapon types, and the sequencing of attacks-information that is considered highly classified. A National Security Council spokesperson later confirmed the apparent authenticity of the chat. French, a former Army JAG officer, emphasizes that such a breach of protocol would normally result in immediate disciplinary action, including removal from command and possible criminal investigation under federal law, which prohibits grossly negligent handling of national defense information.
French argues that whether or not Hegseth’s actions meet the legal threshold for prosecution, the incident reflects a shocking level of carelessness and a betrayal of military norms. He contends that leaders who impose strict rules on service members must abide by those same standards themselves to maintain trust and integrity. Hegseth’s behavior, in French’s view, violates that principle, and he concludes that resignation is the only honorable path forward.
French stresses the broader implications of such a lapse in judgment, warning that carelessness at senior levels can cost lives and erode faith in the chain of command. His message is clear: leadership demands accountability, and Hegseth has failed that test.
French, David. “Opinion | If Pete Hegseth Had Any Honor, He Would Resign.” The New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/opinion/atlantic-hegseth-vance-houthis.html.
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Key takeaways:
- Pete Hegseth reportedly shared classified U.S. military plans in a Signal chat that accidentally included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg.
- The leak included detailed operational information about forthcoming strikes on Yemen.
- Such behavior would typically lead to immediate disciplinary and legal consequences for any military officer.
- David French argues that this breach undermines trust in leadership and sets a dangerous double standard.
- Federal law criminalizes grossly negligent handling of national defense information, making this a potentially serious legal matter.
- French calls for Hegseth’s resignation as a matter of honor and accountability.
Most important quotations:
- “This would be a stunning breach of security.”
- “I’ve never even heard of anything this egregious – a secretary of defense intentionally using a civilian messaging app to share sensitive war plans.”
- “Nothing destroys a leader’s credibility with soldiers more thoroughly than hypocrisy or double standards.”
- “If he had any honor at all, he would resign.”
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