Trump supports Hegseth following a Signal leak, according to the Washington Examiner
President Donald Trump came to the defense of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid controversy surrounding a group chat on the Signal messaging app. The incident came to light when Jeffrey Goldberg of *The Atlantic* reported that he was unintentionally added to a chat involving national security adviser Mike Waltz, Hegseth, and other high-ranking officials, where they discussed airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Following the report,Goldberg published screenshots of conversations showing discussions about the operation,which led to calls for resignations from various commentators,including Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy and media personality Piers Morgan.
Despite this backlash, Trump asserted that Hegseth had “nothing to do” with the scandal, defending his performance as Defense Secretary and characterizing the situation as a “witch hunt.” He similarly supported Waltz, insisting there was no need for an apology regarding the chatS content, which was deemed non-classified by White House officials. The administration continues to push back against claims made by critics,with Trump emphasizing the legitimacy of their communications strategy.
Trump says Hegseth ‘had nothing to do’ with Signal scandal with Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg
President Donald Trump defended his national security team and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in particular, on Wednesday amid the fallout from the Signal messaging app scandal.
On Monday, the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg reported that he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat by national security adviser Mike Waltz earlier this month. Vice President JD Vance, Hegseth, and the bulk of the president’s Cabinet were also group chat participants, where they actively discussed and planned for Trump’s airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
FIVE CONTROVERSIES SURROUNDING HEGSETH SINCE HE WAS CONFIRMED
Goldberg would go on to publish screenshots of the conversation on Wednesday after White House officials insisted that the information discussed was not classified.
Goldberg’s screenshots specifically showed Hegseth outlining the sequencing of the strikes to the group and Waltz giving operational updates after the attack was launched, leading a growing chorus of voices on the Left to call for Hegseth, Waltz, or the pair, to resign. Others including Barstool Sports’ Dave Portnoy and media personality Piers Morgan have called for firings.
Trump was asked by reporters Wednesday evening if Hegseth should “consider” quitting, but the president responded by claiming the Defense Secretary was not involved with the group chat.
“Hegseth is doing a great job. He had nothing to do with this,” he declared. “How do you bring Hegseth into it? He had nothing to do with it. Look, it’s all a witch hunt.”
Trump gave a similar defense of Waltz the day prior, telling reporters there was no reason for the national security advisor to “apologize” for using a technology approved for certain kinds, but not all, government communication.
TRUMP SAYS WALTZ DOESN’T NEED TO ‘APOLOGIZE’ FOR SIGNAL SCANDAL
You can watch Trump’s comments in full below.
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