Trump Refuses to Fire Officials Over Signal Chat Breach Despite Growing Fallout

The president dismisses bipartisan criticism of the security lapse as 'Fake News' while privately expressing frustration with the controversy's media coverage.

• President Trump stated he will not dismiss National Security Advisor Mike Waltz or Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the Signal chat controversy, calling the backlash a 'witch hunt.'
• The controversy began when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat discussing sensitive U.S. military plans, including an attack on Yemen's Houthi militia.
• Goldberg disputed Waltz's claim that they had never met, asserting that Waltz's denial is untrue and highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
• Trump has privately questioned whether to fire Waltz, expressing dissatisfaction with the ongoing media scrutiny and fallout but resisting actions that could appear as yielding to public pressure.
• A federal court has ordered the administration to preserve all Signal messages related to the breach, with a compliance deadline set for March 31, intensifying legal and political pressure.

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