Trump’s Regret Over Leaked Text Chain: A Boost to The Atlantic’s Reputation?

Did a simple mistake by the Trump administration give a surprising lift to The Atlantic? That’s exactly what Donald Trump thinks about the recent leak of a classified strike plan on the encrypted messaging app Signal. In an interview with conservative radio host Vince Coglianese, Trump vented his frustration, pointing out that the leak boosted The Atlantic—a publication he openly criticizes. “It’s too bad we’ve given it a little boost like this,” he said, though later downplaying the significance of the leak itself, calling it "not a big deal. "

The leak revealed strike plans against Houthi militants in Yemen, which had been accidentally exposed to The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Trump and his administration were caught in the spotlight after Goldberg revealed how he was inadvertently added to a group chat with senior officials, including National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The result? A story that not only dominated the news cycle but also sent The Atlantic’s traffic soaring.

Now, let’s break it down. The strike plan discussed in the leaked texts stirred a firestorm of controversy.