WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In the wake of an inadvertent reveal regarding strategic military intents, President Donald Trump asserted on Saturday his dedication to retaining his current staff despite the slip. The mishap involved a premature disclosure of his administration’s plans for an airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen.
During an interview with NBC News, Trump clarified, “I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts.” He expressed unwavering support for his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and defense chief, Pete Hegseth, amidst the fallout.
The incident unfolded when Waltz unintentionally included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic magazine, in a group discussion on the Signal encrypted messaging service. This confidential chat detailed strategies for the impending Yemen strike, led by Hegseth.
Consequently, an article emerged in The Atlantic exposing the miscommunication, which sent ripples through national security sectors. The revelation was unexpected and stirred significant discourse.
Trump is focused on preventing the high turnover that marked his earlier presidency. His first national security adviser, Mike Flynn, departed after a brief stint amid initial Russia investigation developments. Contrary to some calls for staff dismissals, Trump has often resisted yielding to external pressure, particularly from media sources.
When questioned about potential plans to discharge Waltz, Trump firmly denied such notions: “I’ve never heard that. And nobody else makes that decision but me, and I’ve never heard it.” His stance signals a commitment to steadiness within his administration despite outside speculation.