'The View' host Whoopi Goldberg suggests 'locking up' Trump officials involved in Signal chat scandal

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'The View' co-hosts came down heavily on President Donald Trump's administration officials involved in the Signal group chat scandal, with Whoopi Goldberg even suggesting "locking them up".

The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a message group on the Signal app where top Trump administration officials — such as Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz — discussed Yemen military operation plans, according to the New York Post.

Whoopi Goldberg suggests 'locking up' Trump officials involved in Signal chat scandal

The show's hosts opened the show on Tuesday, March 25, with two segments discussing the Signal chat scandal and how the Atlantic editor-in-chief was added to the group.

Whoopi Goldberg, who is not related to Atlantic's Goldberg, played a montage of Trump and other administration officials discussing the importance of classified information in the past, according to the New York Post.

Goldberg suggested during the show, "Should we be saying, ‘Lock them up’?" as she received a loud cheer from the crowd.

Meanwhile, co-host Sunny Hostin added that the officials "may have violated" provisions of the Espionage Act, which include laws about the retention of records, and related to classified information, per the outlet.

Hostin said, "A security breach this significant requires a thorough investigation. People can go to jail for something like this."

Notably, Jeffrey Goldberg mentioned in his first-person account of the saga that he would not reveal some things he witnessed in the chat due to the sensitivity of the information regarding national security.

Hostin added that the The Atlantic's editor-in-chief had handled classified material better than Trump administration officials.

Meanwhile, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, an ex-Trump aide, was also critical of how the Trump officials used Signal to discuss such a sensitive operation.

Goldberg added during the show, "We were talking about top administration officials using a group chat to discuss secret war plans. I don’t know why it’s cracking me up."

Furthermore, co-host Joy Behar called the whole scenario "sick", while Hostin said, "It’s so deeply unserious and scary."

Donald Trump denies knowledge about alleged leak

As soon as the news of the Signal chat scandal was out, media pounced on Trump for an answer.

A pool reporter asked Trump about The Atlantic’s shocking revelations, but the POTUS denied knowing anything about it, and threw shade at the publication itself, Mediaite reported.

Trump said, "I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business. I think it’s not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it. You’re saying that they had what?"

The reporter added that the claim was about his top officials discussing war strategy on Signal. 

Trump asked, "Having to do with what? Having to do with what? What were they talking about?" and the reporter said, "The Houthis."

Trump replied, "With the Houthis. You mean the attack on the Houthis? Well, it couldn’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 telling me about it for the first time."

Trump stands by NSA Mike Waltz following Signal chat scandal

However, later President Trump stood by his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, following the Signal chat scandal.

In a phone interview with NBC on Tuesday, Trump said, “Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man.”

The POTUS was asked what he was told about how Jeffrey Goldberg came to be added to the Signal chat and he said, “It was one of Michael’s people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.”

He added that Goldberg’s presence in the chat had “no impact at all” on the military operation, per the outlet.

Internet slams Whoopi Goldberg and 'The View'

Several internet users slammed Whoopi Goldberg and 'The View' as she suggested locking up Trump administration officials involved in Signal chat scandal.

A user wrote on X, "These are the only things that keep you on the air," while one added, "So what was the result? Is Yemen now a superpower?"

A person also stated, "Cancel the Show - it brings nothing," whereas one mentioned, "What would you talk about if Trump didn’t win??? Your entire show is about your hatred for President Trump & this GREAT country….."

A user also wrote, "This is already a dead story you’re trying to propagate. Shameless Heifers," while one commented, "Why are they laughing? They seem happy this happened."

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