In response to reporting that Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz will leave his post, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Donald Trump is putting our national security at risk by leaving it in the incapable hands of unqualified stooges who have repeatedly and recklessly exposed sensitive military information. In just 100 days, Trump has humiliated himself, embarrassed our military, and put our service members at risk. Michael Waltz deserved to get the boot long ago. Pete Hegseth should be next.”

NEW REPORTING: Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz will leave his post after he exposed critical military operation details, risking active-duty service members’ safety. 

ABC News: “Michael Waltz expected to depart as Trump’s national security adviser, sources say”

“This move comes as President Trump has been increasingly frustrated by Waltz after he came under intense scrutiny for inadvertently adding a reporter to a Signal chat with top Trump officials discussing a U.S. military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.”

The Atlantic: “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans” 

“On Tuesday, March 11, I received a connection request on Signal from a user identified as Michael Waltz. …

“Two days later—Thursday—at 4:28 p.m., I received a notice that I was to be included in a Signal chat group. It was called the ‘Houthi PC small group.’ … 

“A message to the group, from ‘Michael Waltz,’ read as follows: ‘Team – establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours.’”

Waltz repeatedly put America’s national security at risk, exposing sensitive information by setting up more than 20 unsecured chats and using his personal email to share exploitable information about official government business. 

Politico: “Waltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal group chats for crises across the world” 

“National security adviser Mike Waltz’s team regularly set up chats on Signal to coordinate official work on issues including Ukraine, China, Gaza, Middle East policy, Africa and Europe, according to four people who have been personally added to Signal chats. … 

“All four said they saw instances of sensitive information being discussed. … 

“Veteran national security officials have warned the practice potentially violates regulations on protecting sensitive national security information from foreign adversaries, and federal recordkeeping laws if the chats are automatically deleted.”

Reuters: “Trump indicates colleague of Waltz added journalist’s number to group chat”

Washington Post: “Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say” 

“A senior Waltz aide used the commercial email service for highly technical conversations with colleagues at other government agencies involving sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems relating to an ongoing conflict, according to emails reviewed by The Post.” 

Incompetent Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also exposed critical military secrets and risked active-duty service members’ lives — twice — and unleashed “total chaos” at the Pentagon. 

New York Times: “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 in a private Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, according to four people with knowledge of the chat.

“Some of those people said that the information Mr. Hegseth shared on the Signal chat included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen …”

CNN: “Hegseth shared detailed military plans in second Signal chat that included his wife and brother”

“[T]he chat … had more than a dozen people in it …

“The revelation comes as some of Hegseth’s closest advisers have begun sounding the alarm about the secretary’s judgment, including his former press secretary, John Ullyot, and three former senior officials Hegseth fired last week — his top adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense. …

“The turmoil has raised more concerns about Hegseth’s judgment and priorities …”

Days after JD Vance insisted to the media that both he and Trump had “100% confidence” in Hegseth as Defense Secretary, Trump said “only a liar” would say such a thing. 

ABC News: “‘Look, I have 100% confidence in [Pete Hegseth]. I know the president does, and really the entire team does,’ Vance said. ‘As a man, as the Secretary of Defense, I think he’s doing a great job.”

Terry Moran, ABC News: “You have a hundred percent confidence in Pete Hegseth?”

Trump: “I don’t have — a hundred percent confidence in anything, okay? Anything. Do I have a hundred percent? It’s a stupid question. Look —”

Moran: “It’s a pretty important position.”

Trump: “I have — no, no, no. You don’t have a hundred percent. Only a liar would say, ‘I have a hundred percent confidence.’”

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