Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe came under intense questioning from Democrats during a Senate Intelligence Committee oversight hearing today. Lawmakers pressed them about The Atlantic’s report that its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a private group chat discussing U.S. military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. According to Goldberg, both Gabbard and Ratcliffe were part of the conversation.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, stating that Waltz’s team was responsible for mistakenly including Goldberg in the chat.
Watch here live: Tulsi Gabbard, John Ratcliffe, Kash Patel Testify Before Senate on Security Threats
Meanwhile, Trump’s nominee for Social Security Administrator, Frank Bisignano, is testifying before the Senate today amid discussions on funding cuts and potential privatization of the agency.
Democrats have condemned a leaked chat group discussing U.S. airstrikes on Yemen as “sloppy, careless, and incompetent”, pressing officials for an apology during a heated Senate hearing.
However, U.S. intelligence officials Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe insist no classified information was shared, dismissing concerns over national security risks.
When asked if the leak was a “huge mistake,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe simply responded, “No.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is standing by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who mistakenly added a journalist to the chat, sparking the controversy.
Trump Says Waltz Has Learned His Lesson. But What Was It?