President Trump termed the leaked plans for Yemen air strikes a “witch hunt,” while defending Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against demands for his resignation. The leaked information, shared among senior officials on Signal, included crucial details of military operations. Democrats have called for accountability amid the controversy, which has been labeled “Signalgate.”

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump characterized the controversy surrounding leaked Yemen air strike plans as a “witch hunt” while defending Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid Democratic calls for his resignation. This reaction followed the publication of the transcript of messages accidentally shared within a group of senior US officials on Signal, according to the Atlantic Magazine.

Details of the planned air strikes against Iran-backed Huthi rebels were disclosed by Secretary Hegseth prior to the attacks. Trump remarked, “Hegseth is doing a great job, he had nothing to do with this,” during a press interaction in the Oval Office. He further asserted that no classified information was compromised and noted that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz accepted responsibility for mistakenly including journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in the chat, sparking the incident dubbed as “Signalgate.”

Despite the initial withholding of specifics from the magazine, it was eventually compelled to publish the leaked details after the White House’s assurances that no classified information was involved. Some officials attempted to mitigate the implications of the incident. Hegseth, who was in Hawaii at the time, stated that the March 15 conversation contained no names or targets.

Democratic leaders promptly criticized Hegseth, with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stating that he should be dismissed immediately if he failed to accept accountability for his actions. Senator Tammy Duckworth also called for the removal of all officials involved in the chat, accusing Hegseth of dishonesty that could have endangered US pilots. Conversely, Republican Senator Roger Wicker requested an independent investigation into the matter.

The Atlantic indicated that the messages were sent less than thirty minutes prior to the US air force operations against the Huthis. Hegseth outlined the strike details, including comments on the timing and type of military assets employed. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt referred to Goldberg as an “anti-Trump hater” in defense of the administration’s stance. In related developments, Trump’s increased military responses to the Huthi rebels coincide with the ongoing conflict connected to Gaza and Israel.

In conclusion, President Trump’s dismissal of the Yemen air strike leak as a “witch hunt” reflects the ongoing tensions within his administration as well as the political fallout from the incident. The controversy centers around leaked chat messages that divulged sensitive military operations, prompting criticism from both parties. While Trump and some officials defend the integrity of Hegseth, calls for accountability highlight the polarized political atmosphere, with significant implications for national security and governance.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com

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