Trump adviser Michael Waltz defends Signal use, says he stayed on White House payroll
- - - Trump adviser Michael Waltz defends Signal use, says he stayed on White House payroll
Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY July 15, 2025 at 6:36 PM
WASHINGTON – Former Trump national security adviser Michael Waltz told senators during a contentious confirmation hearing that "no classified" information was discussed in a controversial Signal chat he started for top U.S. officials in the lead up to military strikes.
He told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a July 15 hearing on his nomination to be United Nations ambassador, the next role he's been tapped for, that Biden-era guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, advised senior officials to use the platform for personal and professional communication.
"The use of Signal was not only authorized... It's still authorized and highly recommended," Waltz said.
He also testified that he was "not fired" from the White House. Waltz confirmed that he remained on the payroll after Trump took him out of his role as national security adviser.
Former U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Waltz testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on July 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the details of a strike on Houthi militants in Yemen before the operation happened in a conversation on the commercially available encrypted app. Unbeknownst to him, Waltz accidentally added a journalist to the chain. The scandal prompted multiple internal investigations.
At the hearing, Waltz said a White House investigation ended without any disciplinary action. The former Trump adviser said his understanding was that a Defense Department investigation had not yet concluded.
"There was no classified information exchanged," Waltz said in response to questions from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
Democratic senators hammer Waltz, press him to take accountability
Coons said during the exchange that he was hoping to hear "some sense of regret" from Waltz over "sharing what was very sensitive, timely information about a military strike on a commercially available app."
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine said he'd seen nothing to suggest that Waltz had personally shared classified information in the chat. But he noted that unfinished Defense Department probes have not reached that conclusion.
Later in the hearing, Sen. Cory Booker said he was "really disappointed" in Waltz's testimony. "What's been troubling to me about your nomination from the beginning is your failure just to stand up and take accountability for mistakes that you made."
"But I heard you just blame Biden: I've seen you not only fail to stand up but lie," Booker told Waltz, reading aloud Waltz's previous statements.
Confirmation hearing: Former Trump adviser Mike Waltz faces 'Signalgate' grilling in Senate hearing for UN post
Waltz previously took “full responsibility” for the episode, which he blamed on a phone malfunction. He said in an interview with Fox News that the contact information for Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, had inadvertently been "sucked in" to his phone and that he'd saved Goldberg's contact information under someone else's name in his phone. He also called Goldberg "scum."
"At a moment where our national security was clearly compromised, you denied, you deflected, and then you demeaned and degraded those people who objectively told the truth and criticized your actions," Booker said, telling Waltz he was someone "who lacks in integrity."
He said Waltz's response to the blunder showed "profound cowardice," and he could not support his nomination. Booker used nearly all of his allotted time to address criticisms of Waltz, leaving the former Republican congressman without an immediate opportunity to respond.
But moments later, in response to another senator's question, Waltz said he appreciated the men and women he'd led in combat, "And I think the last thing they would call me is a coward."
Waltz says he was 'not fired' from the White House
Waltz is a former Green Beret and Florida representative who resigned from Congress to join the Trump administration. He served as national security adviser for roughly three months. Trump reshuffled his team and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio acting national security adviser on May 1.
In a clash with Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, at his United Nations hearing, Waltz argued Trump did not dismiss him.
“I was not fired. The president never said that, nor did the vice president. I was kept on as an adviser, transitioning a number of important activities,” he said.
After Waltz inadvertently invited Goldberg to a sensitive group chat, Trump fired scores of staff members and restructured the National Security Council.
In a floor speech on the day of the hearing, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer hammered Waltz for the Signal debacle and said the former Trump national security adviser was "part of the crack team that has grossly mismanaged our national security during the opening months of this administration."
"Waltz must acknowledge these failings and prove he’s ready to collaborate with our partners and go toe to toe with our adversaries at the UN," Schumer said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump adviser Michael Waltz defends Signal use in Senate hearing
Source: “AOL AOL Politics”
