President Trump defended his National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, after a security breach involving a Signal group chat that included an Atlantic editor. Trump downplayed the incident as a minor 'glitch' and asserted that no classified information was shared, refusing to elaborate on how he reached this conclusion.
The White House, using Trump's usual approach, attempted to shift the narrative by focusing on other matters including Trump signing executive actions on voter registration and declassifying FBI Russia probe documents. The President's loyalists attacked the media, a standard Trumpian tactic.
The encrypted chat involved discussions of military strikes in Yemen. Waltz admitted responsibility for creating the group chat but claimed he never met the Atlantic editor. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied leaking war plans. White House officials and intelligence agencies had to adjust to the emerging controversy, including preparing for a potentially difficult Senate hearing.
While Trump downplayed the situation, some Republicans expressed concerns and called for accountability. Top Democrats demanded the resignation of Waltz and Hegseth. The incident raised questions about the competence of Trump's national security appointees. Though initially shocked by the security breach, multiple Trump administration officials ultimately remained employed. Internal administration discussions revealed differences of opinion, including some questioning the consistency between Trump's military actions and his message on Europe. The incident has prompted a review of the administration's use of Signal, with Trump suggesting its future usage may be unlikely.