DELAND, Fla. — While Washington was abuzz with the news involving a top adviser to President Donald Trump who inadvertently included a journalist in a chat about military plans, many Republicans voting in the Florida race to fill this adviser’s old congressional seat have downplayed the incident.
Florida’s early voting is now underway to replace Mike Waltz, who currently serves as Trump’s national security adviser. This recent error has not deterred many voters in the area.
Gary Caples, a Republican voter in DeLand, dismissed the news, stating, “I think it was a slip-up and a mistake, everyone makes errors.” Meanwhile, Randy Fine, the state senator who has Trump’s support to take over Waltz’s position, mentioned he was too preoccupied to delve into the journalist’s accidental inclusion concerning military plans in Yemen.
“I have my hands full with running for office and managing my duties in the Senate, so that’s my primary concern right now,” Fine commented.
This subdued Republican reaction, both in Florida and on a national level, outlines a pattern where events that might have once caused bipartisan turmoil are quickly downplayed amid Trump’s steadfast resolve and the unwavering support of his allies and base. Trump responded robustly to the situation, targeting The Atlantic and its editor Jeffrey Goldberg, who was erroneously added to the chat, and maintained that no apology was necessary from his aides.
According to The Atlantic, Waltz seemingly added Goldberg to a group chat that involved 18 high-ranking administration officials in discussions about a planned strike in Yemen.
On Tuesday, Trump remarked, “Michael Waltz learned a lesson, and he’s a good person.” He hinted at a possible mistake by an unnamed aide of Waltz for the mishap. “It was one of Michael’s staff on the phone. A helper inadvertently included his number,” Trump explained.
However, in an interview with Fox News Channel’s “The Ingraham Angle,” Waltz took responsibility, saying he was the one who created the Signal chat group, and there was no aide to blame. “We erred. We’re moving past it,” Waltz stated.
Waltz denied speaking with Goldberg, explaining that he tried to add someone else’s number but Goldberg’s got mistakenly included. Waltz chose not to disclose who he actually intended to add.
The election to fill Waltz’s congressional seat is scheduled for April 1, with early voting already starting. Fine stands as the favored candidate against Democrat Josh Weil, despite concerns from some national Republicans regarding Fine’s campaign financing and overall efforts.
Local Republican leaders in this strongly GOP-supportive region along Florida’s Atlantic Coast, north of Orlando, argue that the Signal issue hasn’t been a concern to early voters. They continue to rally behind Waltz.
Zelma Cohen, vice president of West Volusia’s Republican Party and present at a tent set up for Fine, mentioned that early voters hadn’t raised the matter, commenting, “In Washington, they get worked up over everything.” She continued, “We trust Mike. He’s a very capable individual.”
Even those critical of the mistake and working with Democrats in this election felt it was a minor distraction. “The actual issues are about our benefits, like Medicare and Social Security, and what’s being done for veterans,” said Sally Garcia, who assisted with promoting Weil outside a DeLand office location.
The Democratic candidate addressed some of these topics by linking them to the administration’s security lapse and criticizing how security is tightened elsewhere, such as Social Security requiring in-person verifications opposed to telephonic confirmations.
“It doesn’t make sense to shut down phone lines used for claims when the national security advisor can’t even ensure the country’s security protocols,” Weil commented. In Palm Beach County, the president’s residence, some expressed disappointment about the incident and felt Trump should acknowledge the error.
“Our country’s defense is crucial,” stated Kate Polak from Pompano Beach. “Accountability is important. People must not only apologize but consider stepping down if they can’t fulfill their duties, especially when they receive significant remuneration for these responsibilities.”