Trump downplays Signal chat leak as intelligence officials respond

In recent news, U.S. President Donald Trump and senior intelligence officials have attempted to minimize the implications of a security breach involving a journalist who was unintentionally included in a Signal group chat. This chat was used by top officials to discuss potential U.S. airstrikes in Yemen, according to BBC.

During a heated session of the Senate Intelligence Committee, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe emphasized that there was no classified information shared within the chat. Nonetheless, Democratic lawmakers expressed strong disapproval, labeling the incident as an “embarrassment” and a breach of national security.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the 18-member Signal chat. It is believed that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz or one of his assistants made the error. Initially suspecting the messages were a prank, Goldberg recognized their legitimacy when the airstrikes in Yemen occurred as outlined in the chat.

This incident, now dubbed “Signalgate,” has prompted a lawsuit and raised critical questions about the appropriateness of using a civilian messaging app for sensitive government matters. On March 15, the airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 53 people, targeting Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, with additional assaults occurring in subsequent days.

The situation has overshadowed the intended focus of the Senate hearing, which was originally aimed at addressing issues related to drug cartels and human trafficking.

When pressed during the hearing, Ratcliffe denied that any operational details—such as weaponry, targets, or planned times of attack—were discussed in the group chat.

Gabbard supported this view, arguing that there is a distinction between an “inadvertent release” and a “malicious leak” of sensitive information.

President Trump brushed off the concerns, referring to the breach as a “glitch” that he asserted would have “no impact at all” on military operations. He also defended Waltz, stating that the adviser had “learned a lesson” but remains a “good man.”

During a White House event, Waltz criticized Goldberg, alleging that the journalist was trying to manufacture a scandal instead of recognizing the Trump administration’s achievements.

Security experts, however, argue that discussing military strategies over an unsecured platform represents a serious failure of protocol. The nonpartisan watchdog organization American Oversight has initiated legal action against the officials involved, claiming that they violated the Federal Records Act by enabling messages to auto-delete instead of retaining them as legally required.

In response to the breach, lawmakers have called for a thorough investigation. Senator Roger Wicker, who leads the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed his desire for the inquiry to be bipartisan and emphasized the need to review complete transcripts of the group chat.

Senator Jon Ossoff condemned the incident as “utterly unprofessional,” noting a lack of apology or acknowledgment regarding the serious nature of the mistake.

As the controversy unfolds, discussions continue regarding the security risks associated with the use of commercial messaging applications for high-stakes government communications. Notably, the National Security Agency has previously warned about vulnerabilities associated with Signal, further complicating the administration’s handling of classified information.