- Published Date: March 29, 2025
The Bigger Scandal Behind Signalgate
Every generation has its own collection of blundering fools. Think of the Keystone Cops, The Three Stooges, or even Beavis and Butt-Head. In Stanley Kubrick’s classic Cold War satire Dr. Strangelove, the incompetence turns apocalyptic—like when a paranoid general goes rogue and orders a nuclear strike. But surely, such recklessness only exists in fiction, right?
Fast forward to the early months of Donald Trump’s second term, where a mix of chaos, revenge, and outright incompetence have defined his administration. The latest example? A report from The Atlantic revealed that its editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally added to a private Signal group chat titled “Houthi PC small group.” From his car in a Safeway parking lot, he watched in shock as top national security officials casually discussed bombing strategies in Yemen—completely unaware that an outsider was in their midst.
National Security... With Emojis?
If that wasn’t bad enough, these high-ranking officials weren’t just discussing military operations—they were doing it with the same emoji-filled enthusiasm as a group of middle schoolers. When confronted with their carelessness, instead of taking responsibility, they followed Trump’s playbook: attack the journalist, dodge congressional questions, and deny everything. Trump’s team, from his Cabinet to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, seemed to follow the old Roy Cohn philosophy—never apologize and always blame the messenger.
No Surprise, Just Confirmation
The leaked chat also revealed the administration’s deep-seated disdain for European allies. Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seemed to be in competition over who could insult them more. (“I fully share your loathing of European freeloading,” Hegseth told Vance. “It’s PATHETIC.”) But let’s be honest—this isn’t surprising. Vance has been publicly vocal about his dislike for European policies, most notably when he lectured European leaders about immigration and free speech in Munich.
This administration doesn’t need a leaked Signal chat to expose its flaws. Their behavior is on display every day. Take Trump and Vance’s recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Instead of showing support, they echoed Vladimir Putin’s talking points—right in front of reporters at the Oval Office.
The Wrong People for the Job
Then there’s Steven Witkoff, a real estate developer-turned-“shuttle negotiator” for Trump. After visiting Moscow and meeting Putin, Witkoff gushed about the Russian leader, saying he was “gracious” and even gifted Trump a “beautiful portrait” (which, of course, Trump loved). Witkoff admitted he was completely unprepared for the job, realizing he wasn’t going to “roll in on a white horse” and solve diplomatic issues overnight.
As for Pete Hegseth, his incompetence was predictable. Before becoming Defense Secretary, he was best known as a Fox News weekend host. Reports had already detailed his history of excessive drinking, sexist behavior, and failures in leadership. But that didn’t stop Republicans from approving his nomination. The same went for Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence, who was also part of the now-infamous Signal chat.
The Real Danger is in Plain Sight
At this point, the latest scandal isn’t shocking—it’s just another confirmation of what we already knew. If a journalist were accidentally added to a group chat among health officials, would we really be surprised if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. started spreading anti-vaccine nonsense?
Yes, secrecy is important in any administration. But the real issue isn’t what’s being leaked—it’s that Trump and his team don’t even try to hide their intentions. Unlike Richard Nixon, who saved his darkest thoughts for private meetings, Trump proudly broadcasts his authoritarian ambitions. He regularly undermines the rule of law, attacks the media, and praises dictators—all while showing open hostility toward democratic allies. His plans to reshape the Republican Party into a personal loyalty test are no secret, nor is his willingness to intimidate critics.
The march toward autocracy isn’t happening behind closed doors—it’s unfolding right in front of us. Some may choose to ignore it, hoping it will pass. But the threat is real, and no amount of encryption can hide it.
