Trump’s top intel official Tulsi Gabbard’s words thrown in her face after Yemen war plans text leak: Live updates

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter:

Senator Ron Wyden called for the resignation of the NSA and defense secretary after the war plans were shared on Signal.

During his questioning, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and DNI Tulsi Gabbard both said they have not participated in any group chat with classified information.

Neither object to an audit to ensure that was not the case. Ratcliffe said he would do what the National Security Council deemed appropriate.

Neither object to an audit to ensure that was not the case. Ratcliffe said he would do what the National Security Council deemed appropriate.

Wyden also asked if FBI Director Kash Patel had participated in any chats about national security on unclassified phones of administration officials.

‘Not that I can recall,’ he responded.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter:

Senator Mark Warner asked DNI Tulsi Gabbard if she participated in the group chat.

She declines to answer to which Warner pressed if she was ‘TG’ in the group chat, but she continued to push back.

‘You refuse to acknowledge you were on this chat?’ the ranking member on the Senate Intelligence Committe asked.

She said it was currently ‘under review’ as Warner pressed whether it was classified for not.

When Warner asked CIA Director John Ratcliffe if he was in the group chat, he did answer.

‘I was’ he said, but he tried to expand on it.

He said Signal was loaded onto his commuter at the CIA and it is ‘permissible to use’ for worker purposes provided the decisions made were also noted through recorded channels.

He argued his communications were ‘entirely permissible and lawful.’

After he offered a response, Gabbard also insisted there was no classified material shared on Signal.

‘There was no classified materials shared,’ she declared.

Warner pushed back that if the material was not classified, they should be able to share the messages with the committee.

The Democratic senator called it not only sloppy but said during the hearing it could have endangered American lives.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter:

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard delivered an opening statement as the top national security officials from the Trump administration testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on global threats.

‘China is our most capable strategic competitor,’ Gabbard said.

The DNI said the country ‘seeks to position itself as a leading power on the world stage, economically, technologically and militarily.’

Gabbard noted China’s most serious challenge is its slowing economy.

Gabbard also noted that Russia’s capabilities make it a ‘formidable competitor’ because of its ‘nuclear and conventional military capabilities, along with its demonstrated economic and military resilience.’

She also discussed how Iran continues to seek influence in the Middle East. She said the U.S. assesses that the country is not building a nuclear weapon and its leader has not authorized the nuclear weapons program.

‘Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile is at its highest levels and is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons,’ she noted.

Gabbard added that since 2022, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea have grown closer.

She is joined at the hearing by FBI director Kash Patel, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and others.

President Donald Trump defended his National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal app scandal, calling him a ‘good man’ who ‘learned a lesson.’

His support comes amid calls for the national security adviser to step down, with one official calling him a ‘f***ing idiot.’ Waltz started the text chain to discuss the plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen and added The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

‘Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,’ the source, identified as a ‘person close to the White House’, bluntly told Politico.

Trump, however, told NBC News: ‘Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man.’

White House insiders have vented their anger at National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, with one reportedly calling him a ‘f***ing idiot’ after it emerged that he added a prominent journalist to a secret group chat revealing highly sensitive war plans.

‘Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot,’ the source, identified as a ‘person close to the White House’, bluntly told Politico.

The Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed yesterday that he was invited by Waltz to join a chat on the encrypted app Signal entitled ‘Houthi PC small group.’

Karoline Leavitt argued ‘no classified material’ was posted in the Signal app group that contained Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

‘No “war plans” were discussed’ and ‘No classified material was sent to the thread,’ she wrote on X.

She also said the White House counsel’s office has ‘provided guidance on a number of different platforms’ for staff to use to communicate.

The White House is dealing with the fallout of Goldberg’s revelation he was part of Signal group where National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others discussed plans to bomb the Houthis in Yemen.

Clinton expressed her shock after Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally included in a group chat with the Donald Trump’s entire defense team strategizing about a military attack on Yemen.

‘You have got to be kidding me,’ the Former Secretary of State posted on X, alongside the large eyes emoji.