Trump Downplays National Security Team Texting Military Operation Plan on Signal as a Minor "Glitch"
President Trump's national security team exchanged sensitive information about military operations via the encrypted messaging app Signal, raising concerns about lax security protocols and potential breaches of classified information.
The revelation was first reported by The Atlantic, which claimed that the messages included precise details about weapons packages, targets, and timing. However, no classified information was reportedly included in the exchange.
Administration Insists Democrats Shouldn't Be Outraged
Top administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser John Ratcliffe, insisted that no rules were violated in the use of Signal for organizational correspondence.
"My communications to be clear in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information," Ratcliffe told lawmakers during a hearing on global security threats.
Democrats Push Back
Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, pushed back against the administration's claims, arguing that the lapse in security could have cost lives.
"If this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost," Warner said. "If the Houthis had this information, they could reposition their defensive systems."
White House Responds to Criticism
The White House released a statement Tuesday calling the uproar a "coordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make America's enemies pay and keep Americans safe."
"The security of our country is paramount, and we will not be swayed by partisan politics or sensationalized media reports," the statement read.
Signal: A Popular Encrypted Messaging App
Signal is an app that can be used for direct messaging and group chats as well as phone and video calls. It uses end-to-end encryption for its messaging and calling services, preventing any third party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.
The encryption protocol used by Signal is open source, meaning it's freely available for anyone to inspect, use or modify.
Government Officials Have Used Signal Before
Government officials have used Signal for organizational correspondence, such as scheduling sensitive meetings. Sen. Angus King of Maine expressed surprise at the administration's claim that no classified information was included in the chat.
"It's hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified," King said.
FBI Director Briefed on Signal Chat Matter
FBI Director Kash Patel appeared with Ratcliffe and Gabbard at a hearing on global security threats. Patel said he was only recently briefed on the Signal chat matter and doesn't have an update on whether the FBI has opened an investigation into it.
Lawmaker Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon called for an audit looking into administration officials' use of Signal, saying "I'm of the view that there ought to be resignations."
Trump Says Democrats Should Focus on Real Issues
"The real issue is that our enemies are not paying and keeping Americans safe," Trump said in a statement. "We need to focus on making America great again, not on partisan politics or fake news reports."
Democrats Pitch Slightly Higher Tax Break for Seniors
Conservative lawmakers proposed a new tax break for seniors, which could benefit over 6 million Canadians.
The plan would increase the RRSP contribution age limit and offer bigger tax breaks for seniors.
Reality Sets In for Hudson's Bay Workers
Workers who thought Hudson's Bay would never close are starting to feel the reality of the retail giant's decline.
A new report found that the company has lost over $1 billion in revenue since 2016.
Tariff War 'Moment of Opportunity' for Canada
Trade experts say the ongoing tariff war between the US and China is a "moment of opportunity" for Canada.
"Canada needs to get serious with its trade strategy," said William Watson, a financial columnist. "It's time to take advantage of this moment in the market."
Carney Says Canada Must 'Get Serious' With Trump on Trade
Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada, also emphasized that Canada needs to be more serious about its trade relationship with the US.
"We can't just sit back and wait for things to happen," Carney said. "We need to take action to protect Canadian interests."