A high-ranking Trump official, Michael Waltz, faces potential dismissal after a shocking leaked group text exposed confidential war plans.
Leaked messages spark controversy in Trump administration
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz is under fire after a shocking group text leak exposed discussions on military operations.
The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he was mistakenly invited to the chat.
The group, titled “Houthi PC small group,” included high-ranking officials like Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Leaked group text reveals White House officials calling for Waltz’s removal.
Some White House officials believe Waltz should step down. According to Politico, there is growing pressure for his resignation.
One official stated that discussions about Waltz’s future are ongoing. Half of the administration sees his actions as reckless.
A senior official criticized Waltz’s carelessness, saying, “It was reckless not to check who was on the thread.” Others argue that Trump should not be put in a difficult position due to Waltz’s mistake.
Trump resond to the incident
President Donald Trump has downplayed the incident.
When asked about the leak, he claimed he was unaware of The Atlantic’s report. However, he has privately spoken with Waltz regarding the situation.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Waltz, saying, “President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team.”
Trump is reportedly reluctant to remove Waltz, especially given his administration’s strong defense of Pete Hegseth during Senate confirmation hearings.
Additionally, Elon Musk, a special government employee and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, responded to the controversy.
On social media, He took to X (formerly Twitter) to mock the incident, sharing a satirical post from The Babylon Bee.
He wrote: Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there.”
Political fallout and internal divusiions
The scandal has deepened existing divisions within Trump’s inner circle.
While, some critics argue that Waltz’s background with former Vice President Dick Cheney creates ideological friction with Trump’s “America First” policy.
Others believe Defense Secretary Hegseth should face more scrutiny for allegedly sharing classified information.
Goldberg refrained from publishing some of Hegseth’s messages to avoid jeopardizing U.S. military personnel.
He described the leak as “shocking recklessness,” noting that the messages contained sensitive operational details.
Vice President J.D. Vance voiced concerns over the operation.
In the leaked chat, he warned that immediate military action could spike oil prices and create further instability. He also suggested delaying the operation for strategic messaging purposes.