Waltz’s Signal chat woes snowball as Trump admin defends national security advisor
Mike Waltz, the national security advisor to President Donald Trump, has found himself embroiled in controversy in recent days following a leak of a Signal chat involving high-ranking national security officials. The leak, which included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, sparked outrage from Democrats and critics who accused Waltz of discussing sensitive information in the chat.
The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to the Signal chat where the officials were allegedly discussing strikes against Yemen terrorists. While the Trump administration maintained that no classified material was shared in the chat, the incident raised concerns about the security of communications among top government officials.
Despite the backlash, President Trump and his administration have publicly defended Waltz, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that he remains an important part of the national security team. Trump himself suggested that a staffer in Waltz’s office may have accidentally added Goldberg to the chat, leading to the leak.
Waltz, a former Florida congressman and decorated combat Green Beret, took responsibility for the leak and expressed regret over the incident. He emphasized that no classified information was shared in the chat and vowed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the fallout from the leak continued, reports emerged that Trump was irritated with Waltz but did not want to fire him and give the press a victory. The administration pushed back against claims that classified information was shared in the chat, with NSC spokesman Brian Hughes stating that Waltz had not sent any classified material over unsecured platforms.
In response to the controversy, House Oversight Democrats launched an investigation into Waltz’s use of Gmail for government communications. Additionally, reports revealed that Waltz’s office had set up multiple Signal group chats to coordinate with other officials, leading to further scrutiny of the administration’s communication practices.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Trump reiterated his support for Waltz and the national security team, emphasizing the importance of their work in keeping the country safe. The administration defended the use of Signal for unclassified messaging and maintained that all communications were in line with the President’s agenda.
As the situation continues to unfold, Waltz remains a key figure in the Trump administration’s national security efforts. The President’s unwavering support for his national security advisor underscores the importance of the team’s work in safeguarding the nation’s security interests.
