US President Donald Trump has issued a statement in an attempt to smooth over the growing scandal surrounding the leak of classified information about military strikes in Yemen. The American leader, commenting on the incident in an interview with NBC News, described the incident as an event that did not have a “significant impact.” According to him, the leak was the “only glitch” in the last two months, and his national security adviser Mike Waltz has already “learned his lesson” from the situation. Trump’s statement came amid growing public and media pressure caused by the administration’s contradictory actions.

The situation is complicated by the fact that US Defense Secretary Hegseth had previously categorically denied the leak itself, calling the reports “fake news.” This assertion was made despite clear evidence that was later confirmed. Now the Pentagon chief’s position raises serious questions about his competence and calls into question his credibility as an official responsible for national security. The public and experts are actively discussing why Hegseth initially decided to hide the truth, and how this relates to the Trump administration’s promises of transparency in military matters.

The scandal erupted after it was revealed that classified intelligence about upcoming strikes in Yemen, including details about targets, timing, and weapons, was accidentally leaked through a private chat on the messaging app Signal. The mistake occurred when Mike Waltz inadvertently added a journalist from The Atlantic to the conversation. The media representative, who initially took the incident as a joke, soon found out that the information was genuine when American forces actually struck Houthi positions in Yemen. The incident was the latest blow to the reputation of an administration that has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to strict control over covert operations since taking office in 2025.

Trump, however, remained calm. In his speech, he emphasized that Waltz remains a “good man” and that the incident did not affect U.S. strategic goals in the region. The president also hinted that such missteps are inevitable in a complex international environment in which U.S. forces are actively confronting Iranian-backed groups, including the Houthis.