It's frustrating to me that I can't escape the Signal story on X today.
Not that it isn't a significant story. As the left blows it up, the right is obsessed with downplaying the security breach. It was neither as bad as the Democrats and the Pravda Media say, nor as benign as the Republicans and their defenders do. It was an unforced error--whether you think having a discussion about a sensitive topic on Signal is wise or not.
After all, an entire news cycle is being dominated by a story of mid-level significance, and Trumpworld is scrambling to contain the damage.
As I wrote earlier today, the left's narrative is alarmist and deceptive, so you might be forgiven for dismissing the whole story. And, perhaps, you are mostly right about that. It is, in national security terms, a no-harm, no-foul situation. On the other hand, you might be rightly angry that somebody as awful as Jeffrey Goldberg, one of the slimiest anti-Trumpers on planet Earth, was included in the group chat, and you would be right about that.
We don't yet know how it happened--either Goldberg was in somebody's contact list, which is a problem, or the contact was inserted into the Signal phone book before the official was handed the phone, which is a different kind of problem having to do with Deep State shenanigans.
Mike Waltz on the Signal chat leak:
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 25, 2025
“I just talked to @elonmusk... we’ve got the best technical minds looking at how this happened. I don’t know this guy—he’s the bottom scum of journalists.” pic.twitter.com/1TqToWQOZZ
But whatever you think, one thing seems clear to me: everybody in Trumpworld should shut up about it. They are feeding the beast and giving the firestorm more oxygen, to mix metaphors.
Pete Hegseth and Mike Waltz have been going on a media blitz trying to refute and/or downplay the story. I understand the impulse: something unforgivable happened, even if it wasn't dangerous, and they want to clean up the mess. Jeffrey Goldberg should not have been in on that chat, and whether the breach was inadvertent or sabotaged by a staffer- something unknown at the moment- is as embarrassing as hell.
So, let’s me get this straight. The Atlantic released the so-called “war plans” and those “plans” include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 26, 2025
Those are some really shitty war plans.
This only proves…
So, let’s me get this straight. The Atlantic released the so-called “war plans” and those “plans” include: No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information.
Those are some really shitty war plans.
This only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an “attack plan” (as he now calls it). Not even close.
As I type this, my team and I are traveling the INDOPACOM region, meeting w/ Commanders (the guys who make REAL “war plans”) and talking to troops.
We will continue to do our job, while the media does what it does best: peddle hoaxes.
But as somebody who has done crisis communications--not especially well, even though I know the principles--I know this: the first rule of dealing with being in a big hole is to quit digging.
Quit digging immediately. Take a look around, assess the damage, and formulate a strategy to extricate yourself from the mess. In cases like this, the best strategy is likely to be a simple one: "We are looking into how this security breach happened and will report to you what we learn in due time."
Due time is a Friday night before a long weekend when nobody is paying attention.
This could have and should have been handled much better by the administration. Waltz should have just said, "someone F'd up and we're putting systems in place to make sure it never happens again. Also, no one is getting fired and you don't like it, too bad." https://t.co/dMipo34u62
— Fusilli Spock (@awstar11) March 26, 2025
This is a no-win situation for Trumpworld, and when you can't win, the right thing to do is not play the game. Quit trying to explain or explain away something like this because whatever you say looks like excuse-making. It probably is excuse-making, although on the off chance, there really was a saboteur, the priority should be rooting them out and stringing them up by their private parts.
The Democrats don't care a whit about the leak of sensitive information--they cheer on Deep State leaks that hurt Trump countless times a week, and the media complaining regularly print leaks and lies that make Trump look bad without a second thought. They even cover up for the people who leaked false information to them, rewarding the people spreading disinformation.
My advice is to make a simple statement and move on. The controversy will die from a lack of oxygen. Even the Democrat whinging will die down as people lose interest.
So shut up. Take the hit and move on.
