President Donald Trump is standing firmly behind National Security Adviser Mike Waltz after a group chat mishap sparked controversy. The incident, which involved mistakenly adding a magazine editor to a conversation about military action, raised concerns. However, Trump assured NBC News that Waltz had “learned a lesson.”
His comments came on Tuesday, just hours after Politico reported that Waltz might be removed from his position. Despite the speculation, Trump dismissed these claims.
“Mike Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump stated during the interview, reinforcing his support.
White House Affirms Confidence in Security Team
At the same time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to X to reaffirm the administration’s trust in Waltz and the national security team.
“The President continues to have confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz,” Leavitt wrote, emphasizing stability within the administration.
She also pushed back against media speculation. “These stories come from anonymous sources who clearly don’t have access to the President and are written by journalists eager for a scoop,” she stated, directly referencing Politico’s Monday night report.
How the Signal App Incident Unfolded
The controversy began when Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg shared details in an article published on Monday. According to Goldberg, he received a connection request on the Signal app from Waltz on March 11. Expecting a discussion about pressing global matters such as Ukraine or Iran, he accepted the request.
However, he soon realized he had been added to a group chat where Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Waltz were discussing potential military action against the Houthis in Yemen. Goldberg claimed that one of Hegseth’s messages contained sensitive operational details, including target locations, weapon types, and attack sequences.
White House Denies Sharing Sensitive Information
Leavitt quickly responded to the controversy, stressing two key points: “1. No war plans were discussed. 2. No classified material was sent to the thread.”
Meanwhile, Trump downplayed the situation in his NBC interview. He described it as “the only glitch in two months,” adding that it was not a major issue.
A Staff Error Led to Goldberg’s Inclusion
Clarifying the situation, Trump explained, “It was one of Michael’s people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.”
While the incident sparked concerns, the White House maintains full confidence in Waltz. For now, his position remains secure, and the administration appears eager to move past the issue.
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