President Trump said Monday that he had no idea about the reports by Atlantic journalists. He said he was swept into defense and national security authorities and text message chains while detailing plans for an attack on the Hooty Rebels.
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the Atlantic, wrote that he was invited to a group chat about the signal early on Monday. Goldberg said he realized the chat was authentic when the plan came to fruition with those same details.
Trump was asked about the report at an event with Louisiana officials at the White House shortly after it surfaced. The president argued that he was not a fan of the publication and said he had no knowledge that the editor was mistakenly included in the chain.
“I don't know anything about it. I'm not a huge Atlantic fan. For me, it's a magazine out of business,” Trump said. “I don't know anything about it. What are you saying they have?”
Reporters responded that Trump officials were using signals to coordinate sensitive material, and when they questioned “what does it have to do with?” the reporter said “hoosis.” Trump replied, “Do you mean an attack on the Hoosis?”
“Well, it wouldn't have been very effective because the attack was very effective. I can tell you that. I don't know anything about it. You're the first time I'm telling me about it,” Trump added.
