Special Poll
Trump Shrugs Off Signal War Plans Leak: ‘It’s Just Something That Can Happen’
President Donald Trump addressed the growing controversy on Tuesday over a Signal group chat that accidentally included a journalist in a conversation about U.S. military strikes, downplaying the incident as a technical glitch that could happen to anyone.
Trump acknowledged that Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly added to a private Signal thread involving top national security officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, where details about upcoming U.S. strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen were reportedly discussed.
“We pretty much looked into it, it’s pretty simple to be honest,” Trump told reporters. “It’s just something that can happen, it can happen. You can even prepare for it—it can still happen. Sometimes people are hooked in and you don’t know they’re hooked in. … It’s not a perfect technology. There is no perfect technology.”
The president emphasized that the administration used what it believed to be the most effective tool in the moment, despite the risks. “We always want to use the best technology. This was the best technology for the moment,” he added. “Again, it wasn’t classified, so they probably viewed it as being something that wasn’t that important.”
Critics, however, argue that Signal is not an appropriate channel for high-level government discussions, especially those touching on military operations. The accidental inclusion of a journalist in such a chat has sparked concerns about national security protocols, operational security, and the judgment of senior Trump officials.
When asked directly if Waltz had made a mistake, Trump stood by his national security adviser, who was seated beside him during a meeting with U.S. ambassadors.
“No, I don’t think he should apologize. I think he’s doing his best,” Trump said. “It’s equipment and technology that’s not perfect, and probably he won’t be using it again.”
Waltz quickly agreed with the president, replying, “Yes, sir.” He added, “I agree with you, let’s get everybody in the room whenever possible.”
While the White House has attempted to frame the leak as a minor hiccup, the episode has already fueled bipartisan concerns about improper handling of sensitive military discussions, especially during a time of heightened conflict in the Middle East.
The fallout may also raise questions about the administration’s broader use of unofficial communication platforms, and whether efforts to sidestep traditional channels are leaving room for security lapses and avoidable blunders in managing global threats.