A senior official from the White House has unintentionally revealed plans to send an elite army unit to Portland, Oregon. This incident marks another intelligence leak from the Trump administration.
Details of the Incident
Anthony Salisbury, a high-ranking deputy to policy adviser Stephen Miller, was seen using the messaging app Signal in public. He was discussing the potential deployment of the 82nd Airborne Division, a specialized unit known for parachute assaults and quick reaction capabilities. This conversation took place in Minnesota.
Conversations About Deployment
Images of Salisbury’s messages were acquired by the Minnesota Star Tribune. In these communications, he was in contact with Patrick Weaver, a senior adviser to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, along with other federal officials. Weaver expressed that Hegseth sought explicit approval from President Trump for sending troops to Portland.
- Weaver noted Hegseth’s desire for “top cover” from Trump in case of any issues.
- Hegseth appeared to favor deploying the National Guard instead of the 82nd Airborne, citing the potential media fallout.
- The 82nd Airborne has a storied history, having been involved in both World Wars, as well as conflicts in Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Reactions and Statements
On Sunday, Hegseth announced that 200 members of the National Guard would be deployed “immediately.” However, conflicting reports emerged, indicating that the National Guard had not yet been dispatched despite Trump asserting their presence in Portland.
Salisbury was appointed deputy homeland security adviser in January and was attending a family funeral when this incident occurred. A White House spokesperson stated that nothing discussed in the leaked messages was classified or new information.
Historical Context of Leaks
This leak is not an isolated incident. Previously, in March, discussions among senior officials about military actions in Yemen were compromised when a journalist was mistakenly added to a sensitive Signal group. Subsequently, it was revealed that Hegseth had also shared detailed military operational information with personal contacts via a different chat.
As leaks continue to surface, they pose questions regarding the security of communications within the government and the handling of sensitive information.
