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.

The move was intended to circumvent a lack of cellphone service in much of the Pentagon and enable easier communication between Hegseth and other Trump officials, said people familiar with the matter.