The Trump administration tried to move past the controversy surrounding its use of the Signal messaging app on Monday, declaring it a closed case. However, the breach has led to bipartisan criticism and created rifts within the White House.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated at a White House press briefing that the administration stands by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who faced backlash for including the editor of The Atlantic magazine in a private chat discussing a potential bombing operation in Yemen.
Leavitt mentioned that measures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence of such incidents, without providing further details. “As the president has emphasized, Mike Waltz remains a crucial part of the national security team, and we consider this matter resolved within the White House,” Leavitt stated.
She added, “Steps have been taken to ensure that such a situation will not repeat itself, and we are moving forward.”
The Yemen bombing operation, targeting Houthi militants supporting Palestinians in Gaza and involved in attacks on commercial ships, took place in mid-March. The disclosure was made public by Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, on March 24 after being added to the Signal chat alongside top officials like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
While Waltz’s handling of the situation has upset some senior members of President Trump’s team, he appears to have weathered the storm for now, according to sources familiar with the matter. A Trump ally mentioned that the president privately expressed frustration over Waltz’s actions.
On Monday, Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee urged Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to launch an independent investigation into the Signal leak. The leaders of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee also announced on March 27 that they had requested the Pentagon to look into the issue.
(Reporting by Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, and Gram Slattery; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Michael Perry)
