An angry Hegseth called reporters “hoaxsters” who used “disgruntled former employees” to ruin people.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at reporters Monday over a question about his use of a personal phone to discuss war plans in group chats with unauthorized participants.

Speaking in front of his children at the White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth suggested the stories had been planted by his own aides, three of whom he recently fired.

“What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired, and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax,” Hegseth said.

“This is what the media does: They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations,” Hegseth later added. “Not going to work with me, because we’re changing the Defense Department, putting the Pentagon back in the hands of war fighters.”

The New York Times reported Sunday that four sources said Hegseth had shared military attack plans in a Signal chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer.

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But it’s not just anonymous sources dishing on Hegseth. John Ullyot, who resigned last week from the Pentagon’s communications department, wrote in a remarkable op-ed Sunday that the people Hegseth fired weren’t responsible for the leaks.

“Unfortunately, Hegseth’s team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door,” Ullyot wrote, adding that Hegseth is now “presiding over a strange and baffling purge” that will leave him without people who’d been his closest aides.

The fired aides, including Hegseth’s former deputy chief of staff as well as a former senior adviser, denied leaking information and said in a joint statement they didn’t know why they’d been fired.

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“The last month has been a full-blown meltdown at the Pentagon — and it’s becoming a real problem for the administration,” Ullyot wrote.

Ullyot predicted Trump would soon replace Hegseth, whom the U.S. Senate confirmed to his post despite concerns about his past drinking, erratic behavior and lack of experience managing a large bureaucracy. Trump himself said he was happy with Hegseth on Monday; NPR reported the White House is looking for a replacement.

Hegseth ignored a question about Ullyot as he continued his tirade.

“I’m happy to be here at the Easter Egg Roll with my dad and my kids because, you know, this is what we’re doing it for ― these kids right here. This is why we’re fighting the fake news media,” Hegseth said, pointing to his children.

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Then he pointed at the media.

“This group right here ― full of hoaxsters that peddle anonymous sources from leakers with axes to grind, and then you put it all together as if it’s some news story.”

Pentagon spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.