What happened
A leaked Pentagon group chat has exposed infighting among top officials, with acting Army Secretary Adam Telle being referred to by a vulgar nickname. Telle, a former Capitol Hill aide and White House official, is seeking to make his role permanent despite Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's support for another candidate, Sean Parnell.
The leaked chat, which includes Army officers, reveals a nickname for Telle that stems from his lack of military service and a controversial photo. Meanwhile, Parnell, a decorated combat veteran and Hegseth's chief spokesman, is backed by some Senate Republicans and has the support of Hegseth, who has spoken to President Trump about making him the full-time Army secretary.
The rivalry between Telle and Parnell has begun to spill out into public view, with Telle reportedly being 'pissed' after Parnell gave an impromptu speech at a recent event. Both men deny any feud, but the leaked chat and public displays of tension suggest a deepening divide within the Pentagon.
