Ex-Trump national security adviser Michael Waltz defends Signal use in hearing for UN post
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the details of a strike on Houthi militants in Yemen before the operation had happened in a conversation on the commercially available encrypted app. Unbeknownst to him, Waltz accidentally added a journalist to the chain. The scandal prompted multiple internal investigations.
Waltz said in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 15 that Biden-era guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, advised senior officials to use the platform for personal and professional communication.
"The use of Signal was not only authorized...it's still authorized and highly recommended," Waltz said.
In the hearing, Waltz said a White House investigation ended with no disciplinary action. The former Trump adviser said his understanding was that a Defense Department investigation had not yet concluded.
"There was no classified information exchanged," Waltz said in response to questions from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
Waltz appeared before the panel in his capacity as President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The confirmation hearing gave critics of the administration an opening to ask him about the text chain, in which Trump administration officials say classified information was not shared.
Confirmation hearing: Former Trump adviser Mike Waltz faces 'Signalgate' grilling in Senate hearing for UN post
Waltz is a former Green Beret and Florida representative, who resigned from Congress to join the Trump administration. He served as national security adviser for roughly three months. Trump reshuffled his team and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio acting national security adviser on May 1.
The former Trump aide was expected to face tough questioning about his use of Signal throughout his time as national security adviser. Senior administration officials' use of the commercially available encrypted messaging app came to light after Waltz inadvertently invited the editor of The Atlantic to a sensitive group chat.
Waltz took 'full responsibility' for the episode. Trump later fired scores of staff members and restructured the National Security Council.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-Trump adviser Michael Waltz defends Signal use in Senate hearing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Smithsonian explains why a Trump reference was removed from impeachment exhibit
The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., has removed references to President Donald Trump in a display about impeachments, despite Trump being the first and only president in American history to be impeached twice. But the museum says the move is temporary. The Washington Post first reported the change on Thursday, July 31. On Friday, Aug. 1, the Smithsonian clarified the museum's removal. Here's what we know. Smithsonian: Display restored to 2008 appearance The "impeachment" display is housed within the larger, permanent gallery called "The American Presidency," which opened in 2000, according to an emailed statement from the Smithsonian. It features information and artifacts about Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, according to the display's companion website. Nixon resigned before he could be formally impeached. In September 2021, a "temporary label on content concerning the impeachments of Donald J. Trump" was added, according to the Smithsonian's statement. "It was intended to be a short-term measure to address current events at the time, however, the label remained in place until July 2025." The display has since been returned to how it appeared nearly 20 years ago, according to the Smithsonian statement and the Washington Post's report, which also noted that the exhibit now says, "only three presidents have seriously faced removal," omitting Trump. 'In reviewing our legacy content recently, it became clear that the 'Limits of Presidential Power' section in 'The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden' exhibition needed to be addressed," the museum's statement said. "Because the other topics in this section had not been updated since 2008, the decision was made to restore the 'Impeachment' case back to its 2008 appearance." Website highlights other impeached presidents The companion website for the display does not include a dedicated section for the Trump impeachments but notes in an introductory sentence, "The House of Representatives impeached Andrew Johnson in 1868, William J. Clinton in 1998, and Donald Trump in 2019 and again in 2021. In all four cases the Senate voted to acquit." It includes sections about Johnson's impeachment, including tickets and newspaper clips from the time; Nixon's Senate hearing and resignation, including testimony papers and photos from the proceedings; and Clinton's trial, with tickets and Senate question cards. 'All impeachments' coming in the future "A future and updated exhibit will include all impeachments," the Smithsonian statement said, noting that updating and renewing permanent galleries"requires a significant amount of time and funding." The Smithsonian declined to answer further questions about the change and the timeline for an updated exhibit. The controversy around the Smithsonian's change to the display comes after the White House in May pushed for the removal of art director Kim Sajet from her role as director of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, citing her "strong support" of "DEI." In March, Trump also signed an executive order demanding the removal of "anti-American ideology" from the Smithsonian and other cultural institutions. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Smithsonian responds after Trump removed from impeachment exhibit
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Federal Reserve Governor Kugler steps down, giving Trump slot to fill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve governor Adriana Kugler announced that she will step down next Friday, opening up a spot on the central bank's powerful board that President Donald Trump will be able to fill. Kugler, who did not participate in the Fed's policy meeting earlier this week, would have completed her term in January. Instead, she will retire Aug. 8. She did not provide a reason for stepping down in her resignation letter. Trump has stepped up his criticism of the Fed since chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank would keep its short-term interest rate unchanged. Powell also said the Fed could take months to evaluate the impact of tariffs on the economy before deciding to cut rates, as Trump has demanded.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kugler to step down from Fed board on Aug. 8, allowing Trump to fill her seat early
Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler said Friday she will resign from the Federal Reserve Board of Governors effective Aug. 8, meaning President Trump could have a replacement in her seat earlier than expected. The term of Kugler, who was appointed by President Biden, was due to expire on Jan. 31. "It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,' Kugler wrote in a resignation letter to Fed Chair Jerome Powell. 'I am especially honored to have served during a critical time in achieving our dual mandate of bringing down prices and keeping a strong and resilient labor market.' Kugler was not present at this week's meeting of the Fed's federal Open Market Committee, due to what was described as personal matter. The Fed voted at that meeting to keep rates unchanged and two Fed governors dissented from that decision. Dr. Kugler, who has served as a governor since September 13, 2023, submitted her letter of resignation to Trump and will return to Georgetown University as a professor this fall. 'I appreciate Dr. Kugler's service on the Board and wish her very well in her future endeavors,' said Powell. 'She brought impressive experience and academic insights to her work on the Board.' This a developing story. More to come. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices
