President Donald Trump appeared to be responsible for the signal chat scandal to national security adviser Mike Waltz. The president was asked who was responsible for the scandal while signing an executive order on Wednesday evening.
“I think it was the microphone. I don't know, I always thought it was the microphone,” Trump told reporters before calling the media's response to the scandal a “witch hunt.”
This shows a significant change for the president for the president who denounced someone else for the scandal when talking to NBC. In a phone interview Tuesday, Trump told NBC he believes, “It was one of Michael's people on the phone. The staff has his number there.”
National security advisers Mike Waltz and President Donald Trump lined up for photos. (Reuters)
Rubio breaks the silence in a leaked signal chat: “Someone made a big mistake”
Reporters then asked if Defense Secretary Pete Hegses should be concerned about his position amid the scandal, and Trump rushed to defend his cabinet members.
“Hegses, he was doing a great job… how do you bring Hegses there? He had nothing to do with this,” Trump responded. He also told reporters that he believes that “defective” an encrypted messaging app is “flawed” in light of the scandal.
While talking to reporters, Trump dismissed the importance of the scandal and instead promoted the “incredibly successful” attack, saying that the media should focus on the outcome rather than the chat group.
Trump speaks to the media in his oval office in the White House in Washington, DC on March 26, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)
Atlantic Reporter publishes more text about attacks on Houthi's targets
Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg shook the Trump White House on Monday after defeating the bomb story. Goldberg was incorrectly included in a signal chat group with senior Trump administration officials who were discussing a planned attack on Yemen's Houtis.
Goldberg said there is “very strong doubt” about the credibility of the chat. However, when he confirmed that the behavior discussed in the group was occurring, he knew it was real.
“I have never seen such a violation,” the Atlantic editor-in-chief said. Goldberg acknowledged that it is not uncommon for US officials to use signals, but he said it is primarily used as a logistics tool, not a place to discuss “immediate war plans.”
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of Defense meet President Donald Trump (not photographed) and French President Emmanuel Macron (not photographed) at the White House in Washington, DC on February 24, 2025. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
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The Trump administration has been working to disregard the report for several days, claiming victory when the Atlantic issued a follow-up explaining what was discussed as an “attack plan” rather than a “war plan.”
“This whole story was another hoax written by Trump asshole famous for his sensational spin,” White House press chief Carolyn Leavitt wrote in an X's post.
Leavitt confirmed to reporters Wednesday that Elon Musk was leading an investigation into signal chat leaks. But as Trump has already said he won't fire Waltz in the scandal, it's unclear what will happen to those in charge.
