Tue Mar 25 22:15:52 UTC 2025: ## White House Downplays Yemen Air Strike Chat Scandal as Democrats Call for Resignations

**Washington D.C.** – A growing scandal erupted Tuesday after a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat discussing US air strikes on Yemen. The chat, which included top White House officials including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, revealed details about the March 15th strikes, including targets, weapons used, and timing. Goldberg also reported highly critical comments by US officials regarding European allies.

President Trump dismissed the incident, claiming no classified information was shared and defending his aides. He stated that Signal, a commercial app, is widely used within the government and promised to investigate how Goldberg gained access. Trump also attacked Goldberg, calling him a “sleazebag,” and downplayed the significance of the story.

Waltz stated that technical and legal experts were investigating the breach, denying any prior knowledge or communication with Goldberg. Gabbard and Ratcliffe testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, insisting no classified material was shared, a claim disputed by Democrats.

Senator Mark Warner criticized the incident as “sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior,” and called for Waltz and Hegseth’s resignations. Other Democrats echoed these calls. The White House, however, launched a counter-offensive, with Communications Director Steven Cheung labeling the controversy a “witch hunt,” a term frequently used by the administration to dismiss previous investigations.

The incident also raised concerns about the use of a commercial app for sensitive communications and the potential for security breaches. Reports indicated that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, was in Moscow during the chat. The leaked conversations further revealed the administration’s negative views of European allies, with Trump agreeing with Hegseth’s assessment that they were “freeloading” on the United States. The chat also included discussion of the air strikes themselves, with Vice President JD Vance expressing opposition due to concerns about further assisting European nations.

The incident has sparked a major political firestorm, highlighting security concerns and fueling ongoing partisan tensions. The White House continues to insist the matter is being addressed and that no significant security breach occurred.

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