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Washington — National security adviser Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are under scrutiny following revelations that they conducted a high-level meeting concerning a military operation using a non-government messaging application, which inadvertently included a journalist. This has raised concerns within the administration, although both officials have yet to face severe consequences.
President Trump has reportedly expressed frustration over the incident, particularly regarding Waltz’s connection to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, rather than the use of the Signal app itself to discuss imminent military actions against Houthi positions in Yemen. The Atlantic published its insights on the situation on Monday.
After Waltz confirmed the authenticity of the reports in a private setting, discussions among White House officials turned toward the possibility of his resignation. Nonetheless, Waltz did not offer to resign, and Trump has not demanded his removal, demonstrating his support by referring to Waltz as “a good man” who has “learned a lesson.”
Waltz characterized the usage of Signal as “a mistake,” but this isn’t the first misstep for the administration this week. Mr. Trump appeared unaware that four U.S. soldiers had gone missing in Lithuania during a military exercise until a reporter brought it up in an Oval Office event. The Pentagon had issued a statement regarding the situation earlier that day, but the president had not yet been informed.
When questioned about the missing soldiers, Trump replied, “No, I haven’t,” indicating he had not been briefed on the matter. Unlike prior presidents, he frequently opts out of receiving daily classified intelligence reports. As of Thursday, the search for the soldiers was still ongoing.
Amid the fallout from the Signal incident, sources indicate that the White House hasn’t completely dismissed the idea of potential staff changes. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president continues to have faith in his national security apparatus, though some top officials, including Trump, remain dissatisfied with Waltz’s handling of the situation.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, a Republican, has called for an investigation into the Signal incident, urging the acting inspector general for the Defense Department to look into the matter and provide senators with updates.
It was determined that Waltz was the one who added Goldberg to the Signal group chat. Deputy national security adviser Alex Wong, who has faced criticism from loyal Trump supporters and conservative outlets, did not establish the chat but participated in the ongoing discussions.
High-ranking officials reportedly believe the incorporation of the journalist was unintentional and not malicious. A review of this situation by Elon Musk continues as the administration seeks to manage the narrative surrounding the incident, with sources suggesting that the sustained public confidence in the national security team is partly a means to counter perceived victories for The Atlantic and political opponents.
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