Russian state TV hosts have ridiculed the Trump administration for inadvertently adding a journalist to a Signal chat where officials discussed military strikes against Houthi rebels. The hosts, known to align with Putin’s views, criticized the use of emojis in the chat.
During the exchange, TV host Olga Skabeyeva highlighted the emojis used, including a fist, a flag, and flames, while Vice President JD Vance praised the operation. An American expert named Malek Dudakov suggested that officials in the Trump administration may prefer private platforms over official channels due to leak concerns.
The TV hosts speculated that National Security adviser Mike Waltz, accused of adding the journalist to the chat, could face dismissal. They also observed a lack of focus on the conflict in Ukraine compared to the Middle East discussions in the chat.
Concerns have been raised about the security of the chat, with US spies warning about potential leaks. Despite facing scrutiny from Democrat lawmakers, the officials involved still have the support of Trump. Additionally, there have been reports of private details, such as passwords and phone numbers, being leaked from the chat.
The National Security Agency cautioned officials about the vulnerability of Signal, emphasizing the risk of Russian spying. This revelation has further fueled criticisms of the administration’s handling of sensitive communications.