Who is Phil Hegseth? All about the other Hegseth who is linked to Signalgate 2.0

Pete Hegseth is all over the news - once again!

And this time, for a ‘mistake’ made for the second time!


The Defense Secretary of the United States of America, Pete Hegseth, reportedly shared detailed plans about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen on a second Signal group chat – yet again – this one, The New York Times reported, on his personal phone and including his wife, lawyer, and brother.

This comes weeks after the Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg , claimed he was added to a Signal chat group with high-ranking US security officials, who were discussing US air strikes on Yemen.

As per the NYT report, Hegseth, on a second Signal chat, shared flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen. The information was reportedly sent on March 15. The group included the Trump official's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, his brother, Phil, and a personal lawyer.

Now, it is not clear why Jennifer Rauchet, Hegseth’s third wife, who has also accompanied him on meetings with foreign military officials, would need to know about upcoming military strikes. The couple, who met each other at Fox News, wed at Trump golf club (Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey) in 2019, and have a 7-year-old daughter together. They both have three children each from previous relationships.

But who is Phil?


Read on to find out more about the second member of the Signal group chat.


Who is Phil?

Philip ‘Phil’ Hegseth is the younger brother of Pete Hegseth. Phil reportedly is the youngest of the Hegseth siblings.

Thy will be done. America won. Congratulations Mr. Secretary! @PeteHegseth pic.twitter.com/0HBVcwvA6r

— Phil Hegseth (@phegseth) January 25, 2025

Phil Hegseth is currently positioned as a senior adviser to the Secretary of Defense, playing a crucial role as a liaison between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Pentagon. In his capacity, he engages with various agencies, including the US Coast Guard and Homeland Security Investigations, ensuring coordinated efforts in security initiatives. Recently, Phil had the opportunity to join his brother on an official Pentagon aircraft during a significant Indo-Pacific tour, which included stops in strategic locations such as Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan, where they engaged with local military and diplomatic officials.

In addition to his advisory role, Phil has an impressive professional background. He is the founder of a podcast production company, where he harnesses his expertise in media to create compelling content. Furthermore, he has served as a digital media manager at the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, where his work focused on shaping narratives relevant to national security and defense policy. His prior experience includes a notable tenure with Pete at Concerned Veterans for America, where he worked as a media consultant, earning an annual salary of $108,000. This role highlighted his capabilities in advocacy and communications within veteran affairs.


According to The New York Times report, the group chat, named “Defense | Team Huddle,” was created by Pete Hegseth before his Senate confirmation and was intended for routine scheduling. However, on March 15, the Defense Secretary reportedly used it to relay real-time details about upcoming US airstrikes targeting Houthi militants.

That same day, he also shared the information in a separate Signal chat meant for senior national security officials, a thread that accidentally included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, which created quite a stir.


The Yemen leak involving the first Signal chat is already being investigated by the Pentagon, and now the existence of this second group—featuring family members—could deepen scrutiny around Secretary Hegseth’s handling of classified information.