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Trump to Meet with The Atlantic’s Editor Following Signal Chat Controversy
In a surprising development, President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who was unintentionally included in a high-profile group chat on Signal. This chat involved discussions among administration officials regarding military air strikes against the Houthi group in Yemen.
Trump announced on social media that he would be meeting with Goldberg along with journalists Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer later in the day. He expressed his motivations for the meeting, saying, “I am doing this interview out of curiosity, and as a competition with myself, just to see if it’s possible for The Atlantic to be ‘truthful.'” The President further remarked on the journalists’ apparent biases, questioning their ability to produce a fair story about his presidency.
The forthcoming interview aligns with a story Goldberg initiated about the implications of being part of this secretive group chat, which was revealed last month. The conversation included significant figures such as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who, along with other senior officials, discussed details regarding an expected attack on the Houthis.
This incident has stirred considerable controversy within the White House. Reports from April highlighted that Hegseth had also divulged information regarding the same military operation in another private Signal chat involving family members and personal associates, increasing scrutiny about the appropriateness of sharing such sensitive information.
Trump has publicly supported Hegseth, reaffirming his confidence in the defense secretary and dismissing concerns regarding the incident. “Pete’s doing a great job … Everybody’s happy with him,” the President stated in response to inquiries from the press. Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News producer, is not officially affiliated with the Pentagon, which raises questions about the necessity of sharing sensitive operational details with her or other family members.
The overall handling of the situation has prompted the White House to downplay the significance of the scandal, emphasizing that no classified information was disclosed to the Atlantic editor during the chat. Nonetheless, the exchange included critical intelligence about the timing and nature of the air strikes prior to their execution.
The upcoming meeting and its implications for transparency and accountability in governance continue to be subjects of interest, especially in light of recent events surrounding the administration’s communication protocols.
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www.bbc.com