On Wednesday, President Donald Trump answered more questions about a major security issue. It was recently revealed that top national security officials used a Signal group chat to discuss military attack plans. However, the chat accidentally included a journalist from The Atlantic.
Was the Information Classified?
The White House and Trump’s team say the messages in the chat were not classified. But some Democrats and former intelligence officials disagree. They point out that the messages included details about an upcoming strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Trump’s Response
At a press event about new tariffs, a reporter asked Trump if he still believed nothing classified was shared. He replied, “Well, that’s what I’ve heard. I don’t know. I’m not sure. You have to ask the various people involved. I really don’t know.”
He also accused the media of running a “witch hunt” when asked if the administration was downplaying the leak.
Trump later said he wouldn’t mind an investigation into how The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the chat and whether officials should use a different way to discuss military plans. “It doesn’t bother me,” Trump said. “I want to find out if there was a mistake or if Signal doesn’t work. Maybe Signal’s not very good.”
What Was in the Chat?
Goldberg reported that he was added to the group chat in mid-March by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Other members included:
- Vice President JD Vance
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
For days, the group discussed whether to launch strikes on Houthi targets. Then, Hegseth sent a message with attack details, including timing and targets.
Hegseth insists he didn’t share classified information. On social media, he mocked The Atlantic for calling the messages “war plans,” saying they lacked key details like names, locations, and routes.
Trump Defends Hegseth
Trump defended Hegseth, saying he “had nothing to do with this” and calling the controversy a “witch hunt.” He also suggested that Signal might not be reliable.
Other Reactions
- Marco Rubio: “Someone made a big mistake by adding a journalist. But I’ve been assured that nothing in the chat threatened the operation or our troops.”
- Mike Waltz: Admitted he created the group and took “full responsibility” for the mistake.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt: Called the report “another hoax” by a Trump critic.
- Jeffrey Goldberg: Responded, “I don’t even know what that means. The text is clear—what are they arguing, that an attack is different from a war?”
What’s Next?
The Trump administration, including Elon Musk, who leads the Department of Government Efficiency, is investigating how this mistake happened.