Trump reveals who he ‘always thought’ was behind the Signal chat scandal
President Donald Trump found himself embroiled in controversy once again as he appeared to shift the blame for the Signal chat scandal onto his national security adviser, Mike Waltz. During a press conference while signing an executive order on Wednesday evening, Trump pointed the finger at Waltz when asked about the scandal, stating, “It was Mike, I guess. I don’t know, I always thought it was Mike.” The president went on to dismiss the media’s coverage of the scandal as a “witch hunt.”
This statement marked a stark departure from Trump’s earlier comments to NBC, where he had initially blamed one of Michael’s staffers for the leak. The scandal, which involved a Signal chat group discussing a planned attack on the Houthis in Yemen, was first exposed by The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg. The revelation sent shockwaves through the Trump administration, prompting questions about security protocols and the handling of sensitive information.
Despite the mounting scrutiny, Trump rushed to the defense of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when asked if Hegseth should be concerned about his position. Trump praised Hegseth’s performance and insisted that he had no involvement in the scandal. The president also raised concerns about the security of the encrypted messaging app Signal, suggesting that it could be “defective” in light of the breach.
Throughout the press conference, Trump downplayed the significance of the scandal and instead focused on the success of the attack itself. He urged the media to shift their attention to the outcome of the operation rather than the leaked chat group. Trump’s dismissal of the controversy and his steadfast support for his Cabinet members reflected his unwillingness to let the scandal overshadow his administration’s achievements.
As the fallout from the Signal chat scandal continued to unfold, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed The Atlantic’s report as a “hoax” perpetuated by a “Trump-hater.” Leavitt also revealed that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk was leading an investigation into the leak, signaling a concerted effort to identify those responsible for the breach. Despite calls for accountability, Trump made it clear that he had no intention of firing Waltz over the scandal.
The ongoing investigation and fallout from the Signal chat scandal underscored the challenges of maintaining security and confidentiality in an era of digital communication. As the Trump administration grappled with the aftermath of the leak, questions lingered about the implications for national security and the handling of sensitive information. Only time will tell how the administration addresses the breach and implements safeguards to prevent future incidents.
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
