President Donald Trump has confirmed the removal of multiple officials from the National Security Council following the ongoing controversy surrounding a leaked group chat involving high-level communications on Signal, a secure messaging app.
The leak, which included sensitive conversations tied to U.S. operations abroad, triggered a wave of internal reviews and disciplinary actions. Representative Mike Waltz, who was initially linked to the chat, has faced scrutiny over how the breach occurred and what security protocols may have been bypassed.Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, did not specify how many individuals were dismissed but described the firings as necessary to maintain operational integrity and prevent further compromises. He emphasized that national security “must never be politicized or taken lightly.”The leak has drawn sharp attention within both the intelligence community and Congress, with lawmakers from both parties pressing for details on how secure communications were managed and what vulnerabilities were exposed.Sources familiar with the internal probe say that some of those removed were involved in overseeing communications platforms and may have failed to enforce existing digital safeguards. Additional personnel changes are reportedly being considered as the review expands.Representative Waltz has acknowledged the controversy but maintains he was unaware of any breach during the time the group chat was active. He has publicly stated his support for the investigation and said he welcomes accountability if wrongdoing is discovered.The administration’s move marks the most significant shake-up at the National Security Council since the start of Trump’s second term. Officials have also confirmed the implementation of stricter internal controls to monitor digital messaging and prevent similar incidents.While no classified information has yet been confirmed as leaked, the political fallout continues to build as more officials are drawn into the inquiry. The Department of Justice and other agencies are coordinating on a wider review of security protocols across the executive branch.