You know we’re in trouble when national security decisions are being hashed out in a Signal chat like friends talking about fantasy football. Welcome to Signalgate, where the only thing more alarming than the breach of protocol is the sheer, unfiltered incompetence of the people involved.
Trump’s National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, former Florida congressman and a regular on his knees at Mar-a-Lago, set up a Signal group chat that included a who’s who of the Trump administration’s "finest." The cast of characters included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, among others. Oh, and just for spice, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was also added to the chat...accidentally...by the guy in charge of national security.
Folks! It would be funny if it weren’t true.
Waltz twisted himself into a rhetorical pretzel trying to explain Goldberg’s presence in a chat not meant for press eyes, claiming it was an “error” and “no big deal.” Sure...and January 6th was just a misunderstood brunch gathering.
Wait! It gets worse! Why? Because of course it does! Pete Hegseth, who apparently thinks OPSEC is a fitness app or drinking game, posted strike package details about planned air strike operations in Yemen that hadn’t launched yet. Just when you think these people couldn't possibly be this reckless or dumb, the Signal chat transcript proves otherwise. Don't believe me? Read for yourself! Below is an actual message sent by Secretary Pete Hegseth in the unsecured chat of (regardless of what they say) classified information.
TEAM UPDATE:
TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/ CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.
1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)
1345: “Trigger Based” F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME) — also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)
1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)
1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier “Trigger Based” targets)
1536: F-18 2nd Strike Starts — also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.
Current defense department officials familiar with this type of information have confirmed what any semi-conscious person with two brain cells to rub together knows: this kind of material is ALWAYS classified. Sharing it puts F-18 pilots at risk. These aren't abstract war games! This is life and death, in real time, shared over an app more commonly used for coordinating birthday parties.
Gabbard and Ratcliffe, clearly tasked with gaslighting Congress and their constituencies, both testified that no classified information was shared despite all evidence and military protocol to the contrary. It’s as if the mere act of denying it, with enough condescension and force, can undo the damage. You cannot sit here and say that the exact times, exact aircraft types, and exact weapons to be deployed in a military strike against an enemy with anti-aircraft weapon systems would be considered non-classified information. This is a betrayal to our brave aviators who display more courage, dedication and honor on one mission than any of these ass kissers can hope to display in 10 lifetimes. This is a betrayal to past heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the beaches of Normandy fighting alongside our allies to rid the world of fascism and a brutal murderous dictator. This is a betrayal to the people of our nation that you are tasked with keeping safe.
And how have these officials responded to questions about this reckless behavior, more specifically questions from Democratic senators? With stonewalling, evasion, arrogance, and that there's nothing to see here because of the fact that the strike was successful. What if one of our pilots was shot down? Would there be the typical "thoughts and prayers" statement and a "they know the risks of the mission" line? Information like this is handled with the utmost care so that our service members go on their mission needing ONLY to worry about the risks of that particular mission, not the dangers of their mission details being leaked to the enemy. They are lucky it was a journalist with an impeccable reputation and not Iran or the Houthis that saw this. Instead, no accountability. No real answers. Just spin and ass loads of "I don't recall" statements. In doing this, they are undoing all that we fought for and ushering back in the very threats we always aimed to defeat.
Now imagine—just imagine—if Joe Biden or Barack Obama had overseen something even a fraction as reckless. Republicans would be setting up gallows on the Capitol lawn again. Fox News would be running 24/7 graphics of “TRAITORGATE” and demanding immediate resignations with congressional republicans fighting over who got to file the first impeachment articles.
But now? Crickets. The same GOP that turned Hillary Clinton’s emails into a four-year Benghazi character assassination can't be bothered to care that the current Secretary of Defense casually shared active war plans with a journalist accidentally included in a group chat. The republican's double standard is on full display. According to them, as long as they are in power, nothing is illegal. Nothing is wrong. Nothing to see here. When democrats are in power, everything is illegal, everything is wrong, look at everything they have done to make us all unsafe!
There must be a real investigation. This cannot be hand-waved away as a tech blunder or brushed off as a “nothingburger,” as Stephen Miller might say while drafting his next fascist bedtime story. Congress—yes, even the republican-controlled one—has a duty to act. National security isn’t supposed to be partisan. The reckless endangerment of our military personnel cannot be tolerated just because the people doing it don't want to draw a primary challenge in their next election. What's the easiest way for them to do that? Position yourself at ass level and pucker up good! If they are lucky, they leave with orange lips to show off to the MAGA maniac crowd who only wishes it were them.
But let’s be honest. The lack of action isn’t surprising—it’s just confirmation. Confirmation that the GOP isn’t a serious governing party anymore. It’s a club of opportunists more interested in performative outrage and loyalty to one man than in protecting American lives or upholding their oaths.
So, here’s your moment of clarity. These people aren’t just incompetent, they’re dangerous. And if we let this go unanswered—if we accept that our national security can be botched over encrypted memes and ego boosts—then we deserve the chaos that comes next.
Outside the bubble, the air is thick with incompetence, lies, and betrayal. Inside the Signal chat, it’s all vibes, no accountability.
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