Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that sensitive military plans were shared in a Signal chat that included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. He criticized Goldberg’s credibility, while the White House reviewed the incident and expressed continued support for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz amidst concerns about the breach’s recklessness.
In a recent statement from Hawaii, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that sensitive military plans were not discussed in a Signal chat group that inadvertently included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. Hegseth emphatically stated, “Nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say about that” while addressing media inquiries concerning a national security breach reported by The Atlantic.
Goldberg, the magazine’s editor, was unintentionally included in conversations involving high-level Trump administration officials, such as Vice President JD Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, which discussed operational details about airstrikes against Houthi terrorists. This incident occurred two days prior to the strikes on March 15, when Goldberg was added to the text group on March 11.
In response to the situation, White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes indicated that messages cited in Goldberg’s report appeared to be genuine and confirmed that the NSC is investigating how Goldberg was added to the conversation. In counter to the claims made by Goldberg, Hegseth criticized him for being a “deceitful and highly discredited” journalist, referencing past controversies tied to Goldberg’s reporting, including unverified allegations of collusion and disparaging remarks attributed to President Trump.
As this fallout continues, a senior Trump administration official expressed concern regarding the recklessness of the national security discussions held on Signal. The official noted that discussions are ongoing regarding Waltz’s position, with opinions divided on his job security following this incident.
Despite the controversy, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed President Trump’s confidence in his national security team, asserting that they are trusted amidst the ongoing scrutiny. However, President Trump reportedly engaged with Waltz following the report, indicating the gravity of the situation discussed.
The incident involving Jeffrey Goldberg’s inadvertent inclusion in a Signal chat with high-ranking Trump officials raises significant concerns regarding national security protocols. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vehemently denied discussions about military plans but criticized Goldberg’s journalistic credibility. The ongoing evaluations concerning National Security Adviser Mike Waltz’s role highlight internal conflicts regarding accountability in sensitive communications, all while President Trump maintains confidence in his national security team.
Original Source: nypost.com
