Trump and security chiefs dismiss concerns over Signal chat leak. BBC
US President Donald Trump and his intelligence chiefs have downplayed a security leak involving a Signal group chat. The breach exposed sensitive discussions about military airstrikes in Yemen, raising major concerns in Washington.
The incident began when a journalist was accidentally added to a private Signal chat used by top US officials. The group included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Vice-President JD Vance, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was also involved, though he did not testify about the breach.
During a Senate hearing, Gabbard and Ratcliffe denied that any classified information was shared in the chat. Gabbard insisted no sensitive details were revealed, while Ratcliffe said he saw no discussions of weapons, targets, or attack timings. When asked if the leak was a serious mistake, Ratcliffe bluntly replied, “No.”
The controversy erupted when Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg, who was mistakenly added to the group, reported seeing messages about upcoming US airstrikes in Yemen. Initially, he believed the messages were fake but realized they were genuine when the raid actually took place. The strikes on March 15 targeted Iran-backed Houthi rebels, killing 53 people.
The leak has sparked outrage in Washington, with Senate Democrats calling it a massive security failure. Senator Michael Bennet criticized the officials for being careless with national security. Senator Jon Ossoff called the incident an “embarrassment” and condemned the lack of accountability.
Republicans were more reserved, with Senator Lindsey Graham stating that the US “dodged a bullet” by catching the leak early. Republican Senator Roger Wicker announced plans for a bipartisan investigation, aiming to access the chat’s transcript and uncover the full extent of the breach.
Despite the backlash, Trump stood by his team. He defended National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who was reportedly responsible for inviting Goldberg to the chat. Trump claimed the journalist’s inclusion was simply a “glitch” that had “no impact” on operations.
During a morning interview, Trump praised Waltz, saying, “He’s a good man who learned a lesson.” At a later White House event, Trump dismissed the incident as a distraction from his administration’s achievements. He argued that using Signal is common, even among government officials and the media.
Waltz later admitted fault, telling Fox News, “I take full responsibility. I built the group.” He promised to investigate the error and described it as “embarrassing.”
The leak has triggered legal action. A watchdog group has filed a lawsuit against the officials involved, accusing them of violating the Federal Records Act by failing to preserve the chat records. The National Security Agency had recently warned its employees about Signal’s vulnerabilities, making the incident even more concerning.
While Signal has defended its platform’s security, experts say the breach highlights the risks of using commercial apps for sensitive government discussions. Former CIA officer Mick Mulroy criticized the officials, saying, “You don’t need to be in intelligence to know this is exactly what the enemy wants to see.”
