Deep state leakers schemed to derail Trump’s presidency dating back to his first term.
The swamp just got some bad news.
And that’s because Pete Hegseth dropped the hammer on this deep state leaker with one bold move.
Deep State Leaker Loses Security Clearance
Secretary of War Sean Parnell announced the Pentagon was stripping former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, who served under Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025, of his security clearance over leaks to the press about the defensive capabilities of Air Force One.
“Effective immediately, the Department of War has REVOKED former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s eligibility for access to classified information and his ability to hold any sensitive position.
This action follows his unauthorized disclosure of classified information regarding Air Force One’s capabilities to a media outlet.
Safeguarding classified information is a non-negotiable duty. Those who violate that trust forfeit the privilege of access and any role requiring it,” Parnell wrote.
The leak hunt stemmed from a July 8 New York Times story in which the paper reported that President Trump flew back to Washington from a NATO summit in Turkey on the old Air Force One because the new plane, gifted to America by the Qataris, did not have the same defensive capabilities.
“President Trump flew out of Turkey on Wednesday night on the old Air Force One instead of his new Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 as a security precaution related to the resumption of hostilities with Iran, according to people briefed on the plans, who said the change came at the urging of the Secret Service,” the Times reported.
“But people briefed on the new plane’s capabilities, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security issues, said the new plane does not have all the features of the older plane. The switch in the president’s aircraft when he departed Turkey was a precautionary measure made at the advice of the Secret Service, and not because of a specific threat, they said,” the Times also reported.
Hegseth Makes Good on a Promise to Root Out Leakers
After the Times published the story, Hegseth announced a probe to catch the leaker since feeding information to the press about Air Force One’s defensive capabilities put the President and the flight crew’s lives in danger.
“To combat the dangers that leaks pose, effective immediately, I have delegated tasking authority to the War Department’s Office of General Counsel, empowering OGC to request and receive all information, records, and support across the Department concerning media leak investigations. All Department components and personnel will prioritize these requests, and any taskings issued by OGC under this authority must receive a full and complete response within 48 hours of issuance, Hegseth wrote.
Trump supporters hope this successful leak-hunt operation is the first of many to come.
Swamp Digest will keep you up to date on new developments in this ongoing story and other breaking political news. Please bookmark our site, make it your homepage, and share our content with your friends on social media and by email.