Cliff Notes – Signalgate weakened Trump – so why isn’t Pete Hegseth also getting fired?
- Timing is critical for Trump; Waltz’s sacking came after the 100-day milestone, highlighting political expediency over immediate accountability.
- Waltz’s reckless sharing of sensitive military information jeopardised US personnel and raised questions about Trump’s judgement in appointing him.
- Questions linger regarding Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s involvement in the ‘Signalgate’ scandal, as he remains unscathed despite similar misconduct.
Signalgate weakened Trump – so why isn’t Pete Hegseth also getting fired?
Timing’s everything for Donald Trump.
The time for sacking Mike Waltz was, clearly, not before the 100-day milestone – the measure of his performance in office.
The national security adviser had his card marked from the day the ‘Signalgate’ scandal broke.
In any other government, at any other time, political expediency would have demanded his immediate sacking.
To have shared sensitive military information on a group chat is a most reckless error of judgement.
Bad enough that the information reached the inbox of a US journalist – who knows who else might have accessed the information in what is a commercially available app? China, Russia? Iran, the very country that backs the Houthi rebels who were under attack?
Initially, Donald Trump defended Waltz as a “good man” who had “learned a lesson”. The president will have known, though, that he’s a man who has fundamentally weakened him.
Waltz’s mistake put the lives of US service personnel at risk and called into question the credibility of his ultimate boss.
The emoji-laden group chat read like the stuff of excited youngsters breathlessly sharing gossip.
It was recklessness over responsibility at the heart of government, and it reflected on the commander-in-chief and his judgement in appointing Waltz in the first place.
Sources
Exclusive | Pentagon Inspector General Expands Investigation Into Hegseth’s Use of Signal – WSJ
Hegseth orders ‘comprehensive transformation’ of US Army, merging offices and cutting weapons – Breaking Defense
Who Gets ‘Panzer’ Tattooed on Their Arm? – The Atlantic