WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his support for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, despite revelations that a journalist was inadvertently added to a private Signal chat discussing military plans.
“Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, dismissing concerns that the incident compromised national security.
Accidental Leak of Military Plans
The controversy erupted after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported that he was mistakenly included in a high-level Signal chat where senior Trump administration officials discussed U.S. military strikes in Yemen.
Goldberg revealed that the chat contained detailed plans about upcoming strikes, including targets, weapons, and sequencing of attacks.
Two hours after the final messages, U.S. forces launched airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen.
Despite the breach, Trump insisted that Goldberg’s presence “had no impact at all” on the military operation and played down the security concerns raised by lawmakers.
Congress Demands Answers
The Democratic-controlled Senate Armed Services, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight committees have formally demanded a White House explanation regarding the use of Signal for sensitive military discussions.
A letter from Senate Democrats called the situation “an astonishingly cavalier approach to national security”, raising concerns that classified information may have been improperly transmitted.
House Republicans have largely backed Trump’s position, with Speaker Elise Stefanik stating that the real issue is “Democrats trying to manufacture scandals against a strong national security team.”
White House Defends Its Handling of the Situation
White House officials sought to downplay the leak, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserting on Monday that “nobody was texting war plans” and that Signal was being used only for “routine coordination.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also denied that classified materials were shared, but confirmed that the administration is “reviewing how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added.”
Legal and National Security Concerns
Despite White House reassurances, legal experts have raised serious concerns about the potential breach.
According to national security lawyers, Waltz may have violated multiple provisions of the Espionage Act by discussing real-time military operations on an unapproved platform.
Additionally, the use of disappearing messages in Signal chats has drawn scrutiny over potential violations of federal records laws, which require the preservation of all official government communications.
What Happens Next?
With Congress investigating and the White House standing by Waltz, the controversy is unlikely to fade soon.
Goldberg’s report has triggered renewed debates on government transparency and digital security, while the Biden campaign has seized on the controversy to highlight Trump’s handling of sensitive information.
Whether Waltz faces further scrutiny—or whether Trump moves on as if nothing happened—remains to be seen.
