Trump Isn't Going to Fire NSA Mike Waltz Over Signal Leak, says Report

US President Donald Trump is unlikely to dismiss National Security Adviser Mike Waltz or any other officials involved in the now-infamous Signal group chat leak, according to two administration officials familiar with the matter. The move is reportedly an effort to avoid even a tacit admission of fault, despite mounting criticism.

During an Oval Office appearance on Wednesday, Trump reiterated his support for Waltz, emphasizing that his adviser had already taken responsibility for mistakenly adding The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the private group chat. The chat, which included discussions on sensitive military operations, has led to widespread scrutiny.

Trump Stands Firm Amid Backlash

According to sources close to the president cited in a Guardian report, Trump rarely acknowledges mistakes and has reportedly been pleased with the aggressive defense mounted by Waltz and other senior officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

“He had nothing to do with this. Hegseth? How do you bring Hegseth into this?” Trump said, defending the defense secretary’s involvement despite the fact that Hegseth sent messages detailing military strike plans—messages that raised concerns over national security breaches.

One source familiar with the situation reportedly suggested that Trump’s refusal to take action stems from his desire to avoid giving The Atlantic a perceived victory. The administration has downplayed the significance of the leak, insisting that no classified information was exposed.

Contradictions Mount as Full Messages Are Released

Despite the White House’s efforts to dismiss the leak as minor, the controversy deepened on Wednesday when The Atlantic published the full message thread. The texts revealed a level of detail about the attack plans that contradicted the administration’s previous reassurances.

The scandal has placed the Trump administration in an increasingly difficult position, with critics arguing that even if the shared information was not classified, its disclosure in such an unsecured setting was reckless.

While pressure continues to mount from lawmakers and security officials, Trump’s firm stance signals that he is prepared to ride out the controversy rather than make any dismissals—at least for now.