Pete Hegseth Addresses Signal Chat Incident Amid National Security Concerns

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied allegations of discussing war plans in a Signal chat with journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, emphasizing that no sensitive information was shared. The chat, which inadvertently included Goldberg, involved discussions about military actions in Yemen against Houthi terrorists. Ongoing reviews address the breach, with concerns surrounding the recklessness of the situation, particularly for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

In recent remarks, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed allegations concerning a breach of national security linked to a Signal chat that inadvertently included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. Hegseth asserted, “Nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say about that,” in response to questions regarding internal discussions among high-ranking Trump administration officials. These discussions pertained to operations against Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

Goldberg was added to a Signal group message on March 11, prior to the airstrikes executed on March 15. White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes indicated that messages noted in Goldberg’s report appeared to be legitimate, initiating a review concerning how he was added to the chat.

Hegseth criticized Goldberg, labeling him a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist” and pointing to past instances of misreporting surrounding President Trump. The defense secretary emphasized his lack of trust in Goldberg while redirecting focus to military operations in Yemen.

Goldberg recounted that he was invited to the Signal group named “Houthi PC small group” shortly after connecting with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Reports suggest that Waltz may face repercussions as a result of the incident, with discussions among administration officials regarding his future continuing.

Concerns have surfaced regarding the recklessness of the conversation taking place over Signal, with an anonymous senior official stating that “you can’t have recklessness as the national security adviser.” Following the report, President Trump has reportedly had conversations with Waltz amid ongoing evaluations of the situation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that “President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz,” although the White House has not yet provided additional comments on the matter.

In summary, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth firmly denied that any sensitive “war plans” were communicated in a Signal chat group that included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. The incident, which involved discussions about military operations against Houthi terrorists, raised serious concerns regarding national security protocols within the Trump administration. As repercussions for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are contemplated, the confidence in the national security team remains a priority for President Trump.

Original Source: nypost.com