President Trump and Vice-President Vance are standing by Hegseth despite the swirling controversy over his handling of the Defense Department.

Pete Hegseth just can’t stop himself from using Signal. The defense secretary installed the encrypted-but-unclassified messaging app on a desktop computer in his Pentagon office to work around restrictions that prevent him from using personal devices to communicate with people outside headquarters.

When President Donald Trump chose Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary, incoming officials knew they’d need to surround the inexperienced Fox News host with accomplished staff who could handle the nation’s largest bureaucracy.