{"id":884,"date":"2025-03-26T07:12:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T07:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/26\/trump-downplays-national-security-team-texting-military-operation-plan-on-signal-as-a-minor-glitch-the-associated-press\/"},"modified":"2025-03-26T07:12:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T07:12:21","slug":"trump-downplays-national-security-team-texting-military-operation-plan-on-signal-as-a-minor-glitch-the-associated-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2025\/03\/26\/trump-downplays-national-security-team-texting-military-operation-plan-on-signal-as-a-minor-glitch-the-associated-press\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump downplays national security team texting military operation plan on Signal as a minor &#8216;glitch&#8217; &#8211; The Associated Press"},"content":{"rendered":"<div xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n<p>WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 President <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/donald-trump\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/span> on Tuesday <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/live\/donald-trump-news-updates-3-25-2025\">downplayed<\/a><\/span> the <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/war-plans-trump-hegseth-atlantic-230718a984911dd8663d59edbcb86f2a\">texting of sensitive plans for a military strike<\/a><\/span> against Yemen\u2019s Houthis this month to a group chat that included a journalist, saying it was \u201cthe only glitch in two months\u201d of his administration as Democratic lawmakers heaped criticism on the administration for handling highly sensitive information carelessly.<\/p>\n<p>Trump told NBC News that the lapse \u201cturned out not to be a serious one,\u201d and expressed his continued support for national security adviser <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-national-security-adviser-mike-wlatz-0c81d044c9ffe18dfd745202e8351b9c\">Mike Waltz<\/a><\/span>. <\/p>\n<div data-align-center>                     <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-b80000\"><\/a>                    <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"President Donald Trump gestures as he departs a reception celebrating Greek Independence Day in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/76327eb\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5505x3670+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F31%2Fdf%2Ffbeebd19f905d349660c25bc3943%2Fb8e48cf06ace4038b60cef59b20c74dc\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>President Donald Trump gestures as he departs a reception celebrating Greek Independence Day in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump gestures as he departs a reception celebrating Greek Independence Day in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jacquelyn Martin)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                 <\/div>\n<p>Waltz, according to an article posted online Monday by The Atlantic, appeared to have mistakenly added the magazine\u2019s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a chat that included 18 senior administration officials discussing planning for the strike. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cMichael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he\u2019s a good man,\u201d Trump said. He also appeared to point blame on an unnamed Waltz aide for Goldberg being added to the chain. \u201cIt was one of Michael\u2019s people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/signal-app-atlantic-war-plans-32699da142c5209b845e57f690df4925\">use of messaging app Signal<\/a><\/span> to discuss a sensitive operation has opened the administration to blistering <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/video\/senate-democrats-clash-with-trumps-intelligence-officials-over-war-plans-group-chat-8e517da212224d4fa13467f9910fb58b\">criticism from Democratic lawmakers<\/a><\/span> who expressed outrage at the White House\u2019s and senior administration officials\u2019 insistence that no classified information was shared. Senior administration officials have struggled to explain why the publicly available app was used to discuss such a delicate matter.<\/p>\n<div data-separate-event=\"audioModule\" data-separate-value=\"AP AUDIO: Trump downplays national security team texting military operation plan on Signal as a minor \u2018glitch\u2019\" data-module data-gtm-region=\"AP AUDIO: Trump downplays national security team texting military operation plan on Signal as a minor \u2018glitch\u2019\" data-align-center>                                          <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=\"div\">                 <\/p>\n<p>                     AP AUDIO: Trump downplays national security team texting military operation plan on Signal as a minor \u2018glitch\u2019                 <\/p>\n<p>             <\/bsp-custom-headline>                        <\/p>\n<p>AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports the Trump administration is downplaying the sharing of sensitive military strike information on a Signal group chat that included a journalist.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Waltz makes his first public comments<\/h2>\n<p>Waltz said Tuesday he was not sure how Goldberg ended up on the chat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis one in particular, I\u2019ve never met, don\u2019t know, never communicated with,\u201d Waltz said.<\/p>\n<p>Later Tuesday, Waltz said in an appearance on Fox News Channel\u2019s \u201cThe Ingraham Angle\u201d that he built the message chain and that White House technical experts were trying to figure out how Goldberg\u2019s contact \u201cmay have been sucked in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe made a mistake. We\u2019re moving forward,\u201d said Waltz, who added that he took \u201cfull responsibility\u201d for the episode.<\/p>\n<div data-align-center>                     <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-9e0000\"><\/a>                    <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz listens to a question from a reporter in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon, file)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/066bab9\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F71%2F60%2F84e11f2d9051fa94cc8a66f48f74%2F1350eed97e8d435ea0cb282d00df846e\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz listens to a question from a reporter in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon, file)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz listens to a question from a reporter in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon, file)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                 <\/div>\n<p>Trump, for his part, continued to attack The Atlantic and Goldberg and sent mixed messages on whether the administration would change how it goes about sharing sensitive information going forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe won\u2019t be using it very much\u201d in the future, Trump said of Signal. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the prices you pay when you\u2019re not sitting in the Situation Room with no phones on, which is always the best, frankly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trump added, \u201cIf it was up to me everybody would be sitting in a room together. The room would have solid lead walls and a lead ceiling and lead floor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>One official reported to be on the Signal chain, Director of National Intelligence <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/tulsi-gabbard\">Tulsi Gabbard,<\/a><\/span> acknowledged during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday that she was traveling overseas during the exchange. She wouldn\u2019t say whether she was using her personal or government-issued phone because the matter is under review by the White House National Security Council.<\/p>\n<h2>One Democrat calls the mistake \u2018an embarrassment\u2019<\/h2>\n<p>Both Gabbard and CIA Director <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/john-ratcliffe\">John Ratcliffe<\/a><\/span>, who also was a participant in the Signal exchange and also testified at Tuesday\u2019s intelligence hearing, faced blistering criticism from lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDirector Ratcliffe, this was a huge mistake, correct?\u201d Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat, asked.<\/p>\n<p>After a brief pause, Ratcliffe shook his head. \u201cNo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Ratcliffe attempted to interject as Ossoff asked a follow-up question, leading the two men to speak over each other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is an embarrassment,\u201d Ossoff said, silencing Ratcliffe. \u201cThis is utterly unprofessional. There\u2019s been no apology. There has been no recognition of the gravity of this error.\u201d<\/p>\n<div data-align-center>                     <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-560000\"><\/a>                    <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"CIA Director John Ratcliffe, joined at center by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, testifies as the Senate Intelligence Committee holds its worldwide threats hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/5e28253\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4687x3125+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fd4%2F00%2F7bcc3b164ebe864c18442e912346%2F249a472f146743ed9d37e5fc2b96f840.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>CIA Director John Ratcliffe, joined at center by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, testifies as the Senate Intelligence Committee holds its worldwide threats hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>CIA Director John Ratcliffe, joined at center by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, testifies as the Senate Intelligence Committee holds its worldwide threats hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                 <\/div>\n<p>In the run-up to <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fb2e92a47f054019a2589ace78d20836\">his 2016 election victory<\/a><\/span> over Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump urged criminal prosecution of the former secretary of state for communicating about classified information with her aides on a private email server she set up. The matter was investigated, but the FBI ultimately recommended against charges. None were brought.<\/p>\n<p>Clinton was among Democrats this week to criticize Trump administration officials\u2019 use of Signal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have got to be kidding me,\u201d Clinton said in an X post that spotlighted The Atlantic article and included an eyes emoji.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also faced charges <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-182ac44fde89767bc0c3e634f61686bd\">for mishandling<\/a><\/span> classified information at his Mar-a-Lago resort following his first White House term. Those charges were <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-classified-documents-smith-c66d5ffb7ba86c1b991f95e89bdeba0c\">later dismissed.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Administration says Democrats shouldn\u2019t be outraged<\/h2>\n<p>But on Tuesday, top administration officials were insistent the Democratic outrage was misplaced.<\/p>\n<p>Ratcliffe and Gabbard told lawmakers that no classified information was included in the texts about U.S. attack plans in the message chain. <\/p>\n<p>But <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/politics\/archive\/2025\/03\/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans\/682151\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Atlantic reported<\/a><\/span> that the messages included precise information about weapons packages, targets and timing, but did not publish those details.<\/p>\n<p>Pressed on whether such information should be classified, Gabbard hedged. \u201cI defer to the secretary of defense, the National Security Council, on that question,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Ratcliffe in one exchange with lawmakers said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held the authority on determining whether the information in the message chain was classified.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth has dodged questions about whether the information he put in a Signal chat was classified. On Tuesday while in Hawaii, he repeated almost word for word his short statement from the day before that \u201cnobody\u2019s texting war plans, and that\u2019s all I have to say about that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Democrats pushed back, saying the leaked military plans show a sloppy disregard for security, but Ratcliffe insisted no rules were violated.<\/p>\n<div data-align-center>                     <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-db0000\"><\/a>                    <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to give a television interview outside the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/0df2cc3\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/8278x5519+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F47%2F37%2Fbb6b406544798c7849750e05ef26%2Fcf76c19b768d4cef9e438026952ade69.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to give a television interview outside the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prepares to give a television interview outside the White House, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                 <\/div>\n<p>\u201cMy communications to be clear in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information,\u201d Ratcliffe told lawmakers in the hearing that was supposed to be focused on global security threats.<\/p>\n<p>Facing heated questions from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Gabbard said there\u2019s a difference between \u201cinadvertent\u201d releases of information and intentional leaks. \u201cThere was no classified material that was shared,\u201d Gabbard said.<\/p>\n<p>Warner, though, said the lapse in security could have cost lives. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf this information had gotten out, American lives could have been lost. If the Houthis had this information they could reposition their defensive systems,\u201d Warner said.<\/p>\n<p>Waltz in his appearance on Fox said that while all the information in the exchange was unclassified he\u2019d prefer it remain out of the public eye. \u201cI certainly want our deliberations to stay confidential,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2>Calls for an investigation<\/h2>\n<p>In response to questions from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Gabbard and Ratcliffe said they would participate in an audit looking into administration officials\u2019 use of Signal. Wyden said it must be investigated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m of the view that there ought to be resignations,\u201d Wyden said.<\/p>\n<p>FBI Director <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/kash-patel\">Kash Patel,<\/a><\/span> appearing with Ratcliffe and Gabbard at the hearing, said he was only recently briefed on the Signal chat matter and doesn\u2019t have an update on whether the FBI has opened an investigation into it. Warner asked for an update by the end of the day.<\/p>\n<div data-align-center>                     <bsp-figure>     <\/p>\n<figure data-openoverlay>              <a id=\"image-a40000\"><\/a>                    <picture data-crop=\"imgEn-medium-nocrop\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source media=\"(min-width: 600px)\" width=\"767\" height=\"511\" ><source type=\"image\/webp\" width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><source width=\"599\" height=\"399\" ><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, center, is flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel, left, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, as the Senate Intelligence Committee holds its worldwide threats hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)\"  width=\"599\" height=\"399\" src=\"https:\/\/dims.apnews.com\/dims4\/default\/9437cfc\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5000x3333+0+0\/resize\/599x399!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F02%2Fca%2Ff51aeb95b8a0c7ed38b81f97226c%2Fde4e235b20bf4bea9e6ad01dafca09ba\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/picture>\n<div><bsp-read-more data-more-button-text=\"Read More\" data-less-button-text=\"Read Less\" data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-limit=\"110\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\"><figcaption>\n<p>Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, center, is flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel, left, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, as the Senate Intelligence Committee holds its worldwide threats hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/bsp-read-more><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>          <template data-bsp-figure-overlay-template>                  <\/p>\n<div data-slidenumber=\"0\" data-slidescount=\"1\">                         <bsp-carousel-read-more data-show-less data-expand=\"ReadMore-expand\" data-main-class=\"ReadMore\" data-more-id data-less-id>                             <\/p>\n<p>Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, center, is flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel, left, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, as the Senate Intelligence Committee holds its worldwide threats hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/p>\n<p>                         <\/bsp-carousel-read-more>                     <\/div>\n<p>     <\/template>      <\/bsp-figure>                 <\/div>\n<p>The White House in a statement Tuesday called the uproar a \u201ccoordinated effort to distract from the successful actions taken by President Trump and his administration to make America\u2019s enemies pay and keep Americans safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Examining the security of Signal<\/h2>\n<p>Signal is <span><a data-gtm-enhancement-style=\"LinkEnhancementA\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/privacy-encryption-signal-whatsapp-9faf31ed3411bc5b7cab0647b4ab224d\">an app<\/a><\/span> 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 that prevents any third party from viewing conversation content or listening in on calls.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, messages and calls sent on Signal are scrambled; only the sender and recipient at each end will have the key to decipher them.<\/p>\n<p>Signal\u2019s encryption protocol is open source, meaning that it\u2019s freely available for anyone to inspect, use or modify. The encryption protocol is also used by another popular chat service, social media company Meta\u2019s WhatsApp platform.<\/p>\n<p>Government officials have used Signal for organizational correspondence, such as scheduling sensitive meetings. <\/p>\n<p>Sen. Angus King, a Maine Independent, said he was flummoxed by Ratcliffe and Gabbard\u2019s assertion that no classified information was included in the chat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s hard for me to believe that targets and timing and weapons would not have been classified,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2>___<\/h2>\n<p>AP writer Kelvin Chan in London and Darlene Superville contributed reporting.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the texting of sensitive plans for a military strike against Yemen\u2019s Houthis this month to a group chat that included a journalist, saying it was \u201cthe only glitch in two months\u201d of his administration as Democratic lawmakers heaped criticism on the administration for handling highly sensitive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/884\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}