Secretary Collins Answers Question Regarding Signal Use
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins walked into what he likely thought would be a straightforward interview on veterans’ issues — policy, benefits, reforms. Instead, he found himself squarely in the crosshairs of the liberal media’s latest obsession: the Signal chat saga, which has become the preferred cudgel for opponents of the Trump administration trying to manufacture a scandal where there isn’t one.
Collins, notably not part of the now-infamous encrypted chat, was asked repeatedly about the inclusion of The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg in a group thread involving senior national security officials. Goldberg has claimed the messages contained highly sensitive war plans — a claim swiftly disputed by those involved and undermined further by the actual content of the texts, which failed to live up to the hype. Despite that, the press isn’t letting go.
VERDICT: CNN has been found liable for defamation
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 17, 2025
Pressed on a topic he had no involvement in, Collins pushed back — and not just on the premise of the question, but on the media’s broader narrative. He pointed out what many inside the administration believe: this isn’t about security, it’s about division. It’s about finding a way to drive a wedge between Trump’s team and the public, between veterans and their advocates, and even within the GOP itself.
That last part is crucial. The anti-Trump holdouts that once called themselves Republican have largely left the party. The administration now operates with a streamlined focus and cohesion that eluded it in earlier years. And this media line of attack? It’s not finding the cracks they’re hoping for.
Jury finds CNN defamed Zachary Young with its false reporting on his operations in Afghanistan. Trial now moves to punitive damages phase.
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 17, 2025
Then things escalated. After being asked once more about the Signal thread — again, a conversation in which he played no role — Collins turned the spotlight back on the network, slamming CNN for its coverage of Navy veteran Zachary Young. Young, a former SEAL, helped coordinate evacuations during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. CNN previously aired accusations suggesting Young had exploited desperate Afghans for personal gain, an allegation that didn’t hold up in court.
In fact, earlier this year, a verdict handed down in that defamation case resulted in CNN being ordered to pay millions in damages. That moment wasn’t just a legal loss — it was a credibility blow. And Doug Collins wasn’t about to let that go unmentioned.
When he invoked the case, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins — no relation — responded sharply: “Respectfully, sir. I’m asking the questions here.” But the damage was done. The Secretary had reminded viewers that the media’s moral high ground is, at times, built on shaky terrain.