Fox News host Brian Kilmeade might think Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's days are numbered, given that he introduced Hegseth as the "former secretary" at the start of an interview before quickly correcting himself, an awkward moment that underscored the impact of Hegseth's numerous scandals.
Democrats have called for Hegseth's firing amid revelations that Hegseth shared details about U.S. military operations in Yemen using his personal phone in a 13-person Signal group chat that included his wife and brother—despite a prior warning from an aide advising him not to share sensitive information over an unsecure channel ahead of the operation.
That news comes just weeks after Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg reported that he was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials, particularly Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance, discussing military strategy surrounding war strikes in Yemen.
Hegseth went on Fox to quiet rumors that he might be on his way out—only for Kilmeade to make it awkward when introducing him:
"Here to set the record straight himself is the former Secretary... the current Secretary of State, Pete, great to see you on Fox and Friends, great to see you."
What made this introduction even more cringey is that in his rush to correct himself, Kilmeade referred to Hegseth as the "Secretary of State"—a position currently held by Marco Rubio.
You can watch the moment in the video below.
It was the Freudian slip to end all Freudian slips—and people couldn't help but mock Hegseth in response.
trump outsourced his firings to fox news 😂😂😂😂
— hulkling (@hulkling-she-her.bsky.social) April 23, 2025 at 8:38 AM
I’m sure he can go back to shilling for faux
— Aku Ryo (@akuryo.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Pete Hegseth still acts like he’s broadcasting to his Fox News audience. But he’s not—he’s being held accountable by thinking individuals, not a crowd of Fox News sycophants.
— Jinx (@davidljjenkins.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Oof. When you’ve lost Brian Kilmeade😂. Pete should just resign so he can spend more time with his day drinking.
— fitzrabbit.bsky.social (@fitzrabbit.bsky.social) April 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Hegseth has not shown a lick of remorse, only doubling down when asked about his latest scandal.
When asked about the existence of the second Signal chat, Hegseth lashed out and referenced two of his advisers who were escorted out of the Pentagon early last week amid an investigation into allegations of leaking sensitive information.
He remarked:
“You know, what a big surprise that a bunch of leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out. It’s not going to work with me, because we’re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters, and anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn’t matter.”
Anna Kelly, White House deputy press secretary, also downplayed the significance of the second group chat, saying that "no matter how many times the legacy media tries to resurrect the same non-story, they can’t change the fact that no classified information was shared."
But the White House has started quietly exploring potential replacements for Hegseth at the Pentagon, according to a U.S. official who wasn’t authorized to speak on the matter. However, press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on that claim, insisting President Donald Trump “stands strongly” behind Hegseth.
