‘Good Man, Learnt A Lesson’: Trump Defends Mike Waltz Amid Speculation Of Action Over War Plans Leak To Journalist

Washington: US President Donald Trump has come out in support of his National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, amidst speculations of action and sacking over the sensitive war plans leak issue. Waltz has been facing criticism for sharing sensitive information on a private messaging app with a journalist. According to reports, Waltz started a text chain on the Signal app to discuss plans to bomb Houthi rebels in Yemen, and added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, to the group.

The leak of secret information to a journalist triggered concerns about national security, prompting one of the officials of the US administration to call Waltz a "f***ing idiot". Following the classified information leak incident, there were speculations that the Trump administration might fire the NSA. However, Donald Trump has now come in defence of Waltz, saying he is a "good man" who has "learnt a lesson". The president dismissed the controversy as a "non-issue", claiming that Goldberg's presence on the chat had "no impact at all".

How War Plans Leaked

According to reports, the security breach occurred when Mike Waltz, Trump's national security advisor, unknowingly added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to a Signal group chat. The chat included top officials such as Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. The texts shared in the chat revealed operational details of forthcoming strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, including targets, weapons, and attack sequencing.

Just two hours after the leak on March 15, the US launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, aligning with the details shared in the texts. The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the text chain, raising concerns about operational security and the safety of US service members.

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Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth downplayed the incident, saying "Nobody was texting war plans," but failed to explain why Signal, an encrypted but unclassified app, was used for sensitive discussions or how Goldberg's number was included.

The incident has sparked comparisons to past controversies, such as Hillary Clinton's private email server. Democratic lawmakers are calling for a full investigation under the Espionage Act, which governs the handling of national defence information. The Trump administration faces mounting pressure to explain the breach and whether the Yemen operation was compromised.

Signal App Scandal

As per reports, the Signal app scandal has raised questions about the use of private messaging apps by government officials to discuss sensitive information. The critics argued that such apps are not secure enough to handle classified data, and that officials should use government-approved systems instead.

The White House has defended Waltz's actions, saying that no classified material was shared on the Signal app chat. However, Goldberg has written about how operational details were discussed on the chat and claimed that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive information that could be damaging to the country if it fell into the wrong hands.

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Waltz has faced criticism in the past for his views on foreign policy and national security. As a congressman, he was known for his hawkish stance on China and his support for military intervention in countries such as Yemen.

Waltz's appointment as NSA was seen as a surprise move by many, given his lack of experience in the role. However, Trump has defended his decision, saying that Waltz is a "good man" who is "doing a great job".

Calls For Waltz's Resignation

The Signal app scandal has sparked calls for Waltz's resignation, with many critics arguing that he is not fit to serve as National Security Adviser. However, Trump's support for Waltz suggests that he is unlikely to face disciplinary action anytime soon.