Adviser to Hegseth Says Watchdog Report Over ‘Signalgate’ Clears Him

President Trump said he believes Secretary of War Pete Hegseth when he says he didn’t order military forces to leave no survivors in a strike on a boat from Venezuela that was thought to be involved in drug trafficking.

“He said he did not say that, and I believe him 100%,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, again reaffirming his support for Hegseth while downplaying Democratic talking points that Hegseth should resign.

A senior adviser to Hegseth says the forthcoming Pentagon inspector general report on the so-called “Signalgate” matter does not conclude that Hegseth shared classified information while texting about planned strikes against Houthi targets – and instead is expected to fault improper cellphone practices by former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.