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President Donald Trump defended his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, on Tuesday following reports that a journalist was inadvertently added to a private Signal group chat where high-level military plans were being discussed.
“Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News, downplaying concerns about the security lapse.
The controversy erupted after The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that he was mistakenly added to a Signal chat involving top Trump administration officials, including Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance. The chat reportedly included discussions about U.S. military strikes in Yemen, raising concerns about operational security.
Trump: “No Impact at All” on Military Operation
Trump insisted that Goldberg’s presence in the chat had “no impact at all” on the mission.
“It was one of Michael’s people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there,” Trump explained when asked how Goldberg was added.
Despite criticism from lawmakers, Trump expressed confidence in his national security team. “The situation was the only glitch in two months, and it turned out not to be a serious one,” he added.
Democratic Lawmakers Demand Investigation
The Atlantic‘s report sent shockwaves through Washington, prompting strong reactions from congressional Democrats. Lawmakers on the House Armed Services, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight Committees sent letters demanding answers about the use of Signal and other unapproved messaging platforms for discussing national security matters.
A separate letter from Senate Democrats called the incident “an astonishingly cavalier approach to national security.”
White House Defends Private Chat
White House officials sought to downplay concerns. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on Monday that “nobody was texting war plans,” and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that “no classified material was sent to the thread.”
“As the National Security Council stated, the White House is looking into how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added to the thread,” Leavitt said.
The National Security Council described the Signal conversation as “a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials,” emphasizing that the Yemen strikes were successful and did not endanger U.S. personnel.
Political Fallout and GOP Silence
The revelation comes exactly a decade after the controversy over Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server as secretary of state—an issue that sparked strong Republican criticism at the time. Some of the same Republican lawmakers who condemned Clinton now find themselves linked to the Signal chat, according to The Atlantic.
Trump initially dismissed questions about the report on Monday, telling reporters, “I don’t know anything about it,” before later backing Waltz.
Waltz has yet to comment publicly on the situation. However, sources say he spoke with Trump on Monday about The Atlantic’s story.
Goldberg’s Account: Skepticism Turned to Alarm
Goldberg initially questioned whether the Signal chat was real. However, when U.S. strikes in Yemen began shortly after officials in the chat discussed them, he concluded that the messages were “almost certainly real” and quickly left the group.
What Happens Next?
While the White House is reviewing the incident, it remains unclear whether there will be further consequences for Waltz or others involved in the Signal chat.
With Democratic lawmakers pushing for an investigation and questions swirling about the security protocols used by top officials, the political fallout from this controversy is likely far from over.
