A senior White House official has unintentionally leaked details regarding a plan to deploy an elite army unit to Portland, marking yet another intelligence breach under the Trump administration. Anthony Salisbury, a prominent deputy to Stephen Miller, a key policy adviser, was spotted using the secure messaging app Signal in a public setting to discuss the potential deployment of the army's 82nd Airborne Division to Portland. This Oregon city, which has been frequently criticized by Donald Trump as “war-ravaged,” has become a focal point of political tension.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that images of Salisbury's Signal messages were captured while he was in plain sight of others in Minnesota. The conversations, which took place over the weekend, included discussions with Patrick Weaver, a senior adviser to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with other high-ranking federal officials. Weaver conveyed that Hegseth desired direct instruction from Trump to facilitate troop deployment to Portland.
“Between you and I, I think Pete just wants the top cover from the boss if anything goes sideways with the troops there,” Weaver stated in the messages. He suggested that Hegseth was leaning towards deploying the national guard to avoid any backlash that might arise from using the army, noting, “82nd is like our top-tier quick reaction force for abroad. So it will cause a lot of headlines,” further emphasizing the need for presidential endorsement on such military actions.
The 82nd Airborne Division is renowned for its expertise in parachute assaults and forcible entry operations. This elite unit has a storied history, having been deployed during both World Wars, as well as in conflicts in Vietnam and Afghanistan. Notably, a recent commander was the last American soldier to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021, underscoring the division's critical role in military operations.
On Sunday, Hegseth announced plans for the immediate deployment of 200 members of the national guard. However, reports from NBC News affiliate KGW contradicted this claim, stating that the guard had not yet been deployed, casting doubt on the accuracy of official communications regarding military readiness.
Anthony Salisbury was appointed as the deputy homeland security adviser by Trump in January. During his appointment announcement, Trump highlighted Salisbury’s extensive experience in law enforcement, counter-narcotics, and counter-cartel operations, emphasizing his value to the administration. In a statement to the Minnesota Star Tribune, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson confirmed that Salisbury was in Minnesota to attend a funeral, defending his actions despite personal grief. “Despite dealing with grief from the loss of a family member, Tony continued his important work on behalf of the American people,” Jackson remarked.
This incident is the latest in a series of embarrassing leaks for the Trump administration. In March, a notable breach occurred when the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic was inadvertently added to a Signal chat used by senior officials, including Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, who were discussing sensitive military operations in Yemen. These leaks highlight ongoing concerns regarding communication security and the handling of classified information within the administration.
