Thu Mar 27 09:12:03 UTC 2025: **Trump Downplays Signal Chat Leak as “Witch Hunt,” Faces Calls for Investigation**

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump dismissed the accidental inclusion of a journalist in a top-secret Signal chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen as a “witch hunt,” while facing growing calls for an investigation into the matter. The leak, which revealed sensitive details of planned attacks on the Houthis, has sparked widespread criticism and prompted bipartisan concern about national security.

The controversy began after The Atlantic revealed that its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat involving Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other officials discussing the Yemen operation. While the White House claims the information wasn’t classified, Democrats have vehemently disputed this, citing the sensitive nature of the military plans.

Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, along with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), has requested an expedited inspector general investigation into the use of Signal and a classified briefing from a senior administration official. Wicker stated that the leaked information “appears to be of such a sensitive nature that…I would have wanted it classified.”

Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called the administration’s claims “baloney.” Several House Democrats have also joined the chorus of criticism.

Trump, while stating the investigation “doesn’t bother me,” downplayed the incident as a media fabrication and suggested the messaging app itself might be faulty. He reiterated his support for his national security team but acknowledged a preference for in-person discussions of sensitive military operations in more secure settings. Whether this will result in policy changes remains unclear. The incident draws parallels to the 2016 presidential campaign controversy surrounding Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server.

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