Trump defends Michael Waltz over Signal controversy

President Donald Trump on Tuesday defended his National Security Advisor Michael Waltz over the controversy related to the addition of a journalist to a national security discussion on Signal, which included the sharing of sensitive information.

Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, was accidentally added to a chain last week containing messages from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, and 15 other senior national security officials. The discussion regarded the Defense Department's strike plans on the Houthis in Yemen.

Goldberg said that he had received an invitation to join the chat by Waltz, and the National Security Council said the thread appeared to be authentic. 

When asked about the scandal during a media briefing, Trump defended Waltz, stating it was "very unfair" the way that the press attacked his national security advisor. 

"I think it was very unfair the way they attacked Michael," Trump said. "He's a good person ... I don't think we should allow people that are very good, like [Waltz] who has done a great job, get hurt by this." 

The president also commented that the mistake was made by one of Waltz's staffers who had Goldberg's number on their phone, and that Goldberg's addition had no impact on the results of the strike.

Trump additionally slammed The Atlantic as a "failing publication," and Waltz slammed the media as an industry where journalists have "made big names for themselves making up lies about this president." 

"Whether it's the Russia hoax, or making up lies about Gold Star families," Waltz said. "This [reporter] in particular I never met, don't know and never communicated with and we are looking into how the heck he got into the room."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.