House Dems consider veterans’ event to address reported Trump Signal lapse
Internal deliberations reveal how Democrats are trying to draw a sharp contrast on national security after a breach Republicans have largely brushed off.
House Democrats are considering an event featuring members with military backgrounds to address concerns raised by the Trump team’s reported Signal security lapse, according to a source familiar with the planning.
No final decision has been made, but any formal response Democrats land on is expected to underscore the seriousness of the incident amid efforts by congressional Republicans and the White House to minimize its significance.
Once Upon a Hill is the first to publish these previously unreported details of the caucus’s internal discussions.
Allow me to explain: The private deliberations offer a window into how House Democrats are calibrating their messaging behind closed doors, weighing not just what to say—but who should say it.
In her own words: Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told me the ramifications of the scandal were terrifying at first glance—and grew more alarming as she dug into the circumstances.
We are so lucky that nobody died,” she said. “And the fact that not every single one of them has not resigned already, and that there has been no push from the Republicans to fire them is just so beyond outrageous.”
The second-term congresswoman also said the controversy calls into question the GOP’s longstanding claim to being the party of national security.
“These are incompetent people,” Balint said of the 18 Trump officials in the Signal group chat. “So that anyone could say that they are the ones to be trusted on national security? Get your heads out of your asses.”
How we got here: A senior Trump administration official mistakenly added The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat where cabinet-level officials discussed forthcoming U.S. military strikes on Yemen—including sensitive operational details.
Trump allies have largely dismissed the breach, which Goldberg reported on Monday. They argue the mission’s success proves Goldberg’s brief access to the Signal thread was ultimately inconsequential.
But Democrats are demanding a full investigation, arguing the episode lays bare not just a double standard—but a culture shaped by a president who’s treated national security norms as optional and taught his staff to do the same.
Not so fast: President Donald Trump downplayed the reported Signal breach in a brief interview with NBC News, calling it “the only glitch in two months” and insisting it “turned out not to be a serious one.”
He said the mistaken inclusion of Goldberg had “no impact at all” on the mission’s success and reaffirmed his confidence in his national security advisor: “Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man.”
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed The Atlantic story as “sensationalist spin,” denying that any war plans or classified materials were shared in the chat.
She said the White House Counsel’s Office had advised senior officials on secure communication platforms and that the National Security Council is reviewing how Goldberg’s number was inadvertently added to the thread.
“Thanks to the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump, the Houthi strikes were successful and effective,” Leavitt added. “Terrorists were killed, and that’s what matters most.”
The final word: For House Democrats, the Signal breach isn’t just a headline—it’s a warning sign. How they respond could shape the party’s posture on national security in a Trump-led Washington.
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