Consider a recent episode involving Mike Waltz, once the national security advisor to former President Donald Trump. This incident has led to tremendous political pushback. During one such inopportune moment, Waltz mistakenly included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to an ongoing Signal group chat. The subject—future U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. This thread was still festering as late as Tuesday morning, in time for the day of a weekly Cabinet meeting.
Waltz’s Signal communications certainly included sensitive military information that was leaked as thoroughly discussed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other high-ranking officials. This accidental leak has led to a resurgent demand from Democratic lawmakers for Waltz and Hegseth to drop out of their appointed offices. Things really blew up once The Atlantic published the complete text of the thread. This led to an unusual and public outcry by active duty and retired military leaders regarding the misleading portrayal of this data as unclassified.
To the outrage, Trump doubled down and appeared to defend his advisors. He claimed that there was no classified information in the thread at all. During a recent interview, Trump expressed his skepticism regarding the use of Signal, stating, “If you want to know the truth. I would frankly tell these people not to use Signal, although it’s been used by a lot of people.” He further remarked, “I think we learned: Maybe don’t use Signal, okay?”
Waltz, who is set to leave his role as national security advisor, marking one of the first significant staffing changes in Trump’s second term, took to social media later on Thursday to affirm his commitment to public service. “I’m deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation,” he wrote on X.
Our group chat on Signal featured other VIPs, as seen in a photo shared to social media that reveals some names that were crossed out and pixelated. Among those in favor seemed to be Secretary of State Marco Rubio and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. In a short statement, Trump indicated that proto-foreigner Rubio will be the acting national security advisor until further notice.
This latest episode highlights the continuing friction inside the Trump administration over communications procedures and the management of sensitive information. Critics are raising alarm over the idea that such important military discussions could be so easily undermined.
As this controversy continues to play out, it’s unclear what effect it will have on the administration of President Trump. What happens next? Are further criminal actions coming to the officials implicated? The political fallout from this incident will no doubt shape debates over communication practices among government officials in the future.
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