Mike Waltz's team is reported to have used the Signal messaging app to set up numerous group chats as the National Security Advisor faces heightened scrutiny for accidentally leaking sensitive military information on the same app.

Waltz's team set up at least 20 group chats on the Signal messaging app, according to Politico, which cited four people with direct knowledge on the matter, who highlighted that the group chats covered Ukraine, China, Gaza, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

All four individuals also highlighted that sensitive information was shared on the group chats, but they did not know whether or not classified material was being shared over the messaging platform.

Despite the criticism Waltz received for using such a platform to discuss sensitive matters, the White House and US President Donald Trump defended him, claiming that he is the target of a smear campaign.

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Trump administration stands by Waltz

Trump has defended Waltz amid the scrutiny he was receiving for the SignalGate scandal, expressing his continued confidence in both the National Security Advisor and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The US president dismissed the controversy as a "witch hunt", disregarding calls to fire Waltz and proclaiming that he doesn't "fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts," in an interview with NBC News on March 30.

Trump boasted about his administration and criticized the scandal, telling NBC, “All I can tell you is it’s just a witch hunt, and it’s the only thing the press wants to talk about because you have nothing else to talk about. Because it’s been the greatest 100-day presidency in the history of our country.”

The White House said that it considers the recent controversy over leaked military discussions on the Signal messaging app resolved while reaffirming Waltz's position despite backlash over the incident, in an announcement published on March 31.

On April 1, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the case surrounding Waltz was closed, telling reporters that "As the president has made it very clear, Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team, and this case has been closed here at the White House, as far as we are concerned. There have been steps made to ensure that something like that can obviously never happen again, and we're moving forward."