There are many reasons why Trump and his administration are a threat to this country but the fact that Trump never apologizes or admits that he is wrong are characteristics that amplify those threats. Most of us remember ‘SharpieGate’ when the President erroneously stated that hurricane Dorian would impact areas of Alabama. The National Weather Service tried to correct the misinformation but Trump could not accept the fact that he was wrong so he used a Sharpie pen to draw his preferred and completely baseless hurricane path so it would show there would be some impact to Alabama. A simple, “I misspoke” would have sufficed had he just deferred to the NWS, but it is impossible for him to admit making an error.
Today, after it came to light that Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, disclosed sensitive military intelligence information on a second Signal chat from his personal phone that included his wife, his brother and his personal lawyer, Trump refuses to call out Hegseth and demand that he resign. To do so, Trump would have to admit he made a mistake in recommending Hegseth to one of the most powerful and important positions in the U.S. government and he simply cannot do that. Consequently, the national security of the United States is at risk as long as this irresponsible and incompetent person remains at the head of the DOD.
Our allies (or now probably our’ former’ allies) will not trust that sensitive information they provide the United States will be kept secure and handled appropriately. They will most likely cease to provide all the intelligence information they would have provided in previous administrations. That creates an intelligence gap and possible blind spot for America. That is very dangerous and a direct consequence of Trump not being able to admit to making a mistake in hiring Hegseth.
America’s adversaries are in heaven because their jobs to collect sensitive American intelligence is now much easier. Hegseth obviously believes that Signal provides a channel for secure communications when our own government has said that it is not. The United States has an entire agency, the National Security Agency, devoted to developing secure communications channels, and using personal cell phones and the Signal app are not part of their protocols.
In any previous administration, Pete Hegseth would have been fired after the first fiasco involving Signal. The fact that Trump continues to stand by him after this second incidence came to light just shows a how little regard Trump has for our national security and the proper handling of classified information. Of course, what should we expect from someone who illegally stashed highly classified information in a bathroom at Mar a Lago?
It is extremely troubling that Hegseth and others are discussing classified information on an unapproved commercial app using their personal phones. However, what should trouble everyone even more is why. Beyond this just being stupid it is clearly an attempt to circumvent the laws requiring the preservation of records. It begs the question, “What are they saying behind closed doors that they don’t want any lasting record of?” That is really the more troubling question.
It is apparent to almost everyone that Trump’s tariff wars are wreaking havoc on the world economy but Trump cannot admit that perhaps he was a bit too aggressive so there is no end in sight. Trump wrong? Not a chance. It is apparent to almost everyone involved with national security that Pete Hegseth is careless and just plain stupid and has no business being in his current position. Trump wrong? Not a chance. Trump vows that he will make America great again. Trump wrong? Highly probable.
When the Titanic foundered, Trump would likely be sitting in a lifeboat proudly boasting, “It was designed to do that.” To err is human, Trump is obviously not!
