President Donald Trump dismissed concerns over the accidental inclusion of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a classified-adjacent group chat discussing an upcoming U.S. military operation, calling the mishap “something that can happen.”
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, Trump made clear that he has no intention of firing the official responsible for the security lapse, describing the incident as a simple mistake rather than a major breach.
“We pretty much looked into it,” Trump said when asked if the individual responsible would be dismissed. “It’s pretty simple, to be honest. It’s not — it’s just something that can happen. It can happen. You can even prepare for it. It can happen. Sometimes people are hooked in, and you don’t know they’re hooked in, they’re hooked into your line, and they don’t even mean bad by it.”
Signal Use Under Scrutiny
The group chat in question was hosted on Signal, an encrypted messaging app frequently used by government officials for secure communication. Trump acknowledged the app’s imperfections but defended its use.
“There is no perfect technology,” Trump said. “The really good ones are very cumbersome, very hard to access… we always want to use the best technology. This was the best technology for the moment.”
Trump added that his administration would review whether senior White House officials should continue using Signal, though he noted that “everybody else seems to be using it.” In a more colorful remark, he suggested his ideal solution would be a fully secured, lead-lined room for sensitive discussions.
Allegations of Military Details Being Shared
The controversy stems from a report by The Atlantic, which alleges that on March 11, Goldberg received an unexpected Signal request from a user named “Michael Waltz” inviting him to a chat labeled “Houthi PC small group.” According to the report, the chat included senior administration officials and contained operational details about forthcoming U.S. airstrikes in Yemen.
The Atlantic further claims that on March 15, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted sensitive information regarding targets, weapons, and the sequence of attacks. However, Trump and his administration have pushed back against these allegations, asserting that no classified details were shared.
“The attack was phenomenal and it’s ongoing,” said National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who attended Tuesday’s press conference.
White House Downplays Leak
Waltz took the opportunity to attack Goldberg’s credibility, suggesting the journalist was part of a broader media effort to discredit Trump.
“There’s a lot of journalists in this city who have made big names for themselves making up lies about this president,” Waltz said. “Whether it’s the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families.”
He denied ever meeting or communicating with Goldberg, adding that the administration is investigating how he was mistakenly added to the chat.
“We have our technical experts looking at it. We have our legal teams looking at it, and of course, we’re going to keep everything as secure as possible,” Waltz said. “No one in your national security team would ever put anyone in danger.”
What’s Next?
While Trump insists the Signal incident is a “nonissue,” the episode raises fresh concerns about cybersecurity and the security protocols of top White House officials.
