The National Interest Foundation Newsletter

Issue 279, March 28, 2025

Welcome to our NIF Newsletter. In this week’s edition, we examine the fallout from the Trump administration’s Signal group chat leak of its Yemen attack plans, provide analysis regarding why the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has sparked mass protests in Turkey, and delve into the backlash against Tesla amid growing anti-Musk sentiment.

Editor: Bassam Tarbush

Fallout from the Trump Administration’s Signal Group Chat Leak of Its Yemen Attack Plans

There has been significant fallout this week in light of the revelation that top Trump administration officials shared sensitive plans regarding U.S. military strikes in Yemen via group chat on the messaging app Signal, with the texts being leaked due to the mistaken inclusion of journalist and editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg. The group chat chain was comprised of a host of senior U.S. officials including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe, among others. While the White House has tried to downplay the seriousness of the incident, lawmakers, former U.S. security officials, and experts have raised major questions and concerns about the leak. Goldberg argued that he initially withheld certain detailed messages from the exchange, citing unease over disclosing classified U.S. intelligence. However, after Trump officials like Hegseth and Gabbard repeatedly blasted his reporting and claimed that sensitive information was not circulated in the group chat, Goldberg and The Atlantic stated that they wanted to make the array of messages public in order to allow people to decide whether or not that was the case for themselves. Thus, later in the week, additional group chat messages were published that consisted of further specific operational details regarding the timing of attacks and weapons that would be used in them.

For many observers that have reacted to the breach, there are legitimate reasons why it has elicited such alarm. The mere fact that senior Trump administration officials decided to bypass a range of secure classified government mechanisms and instead discuss plans for an upcoming military attack on a commercially available app is itself highly troublesome. Former U.S. security and defense officials who have taken part in correspondence around similar-type sensitive operations expressed disbelief at what they viewed as “shocking negligence” and irresponsibility on the part of Trump officials in the case of the Signal group chat leak. As one put it, “We’ve got the best secure communication systems in the world — of any country — so why are we using a rickety, commercially available system?” The official added that even putting aside the fact that a well-known journalist was given access to the chat, sending a real-time minute-by-minute timeline of impending strikes through a messaging app endangers American personnel and could compromise the success of a U.S. military operation. Furthermore, had the texts simply fallen into the hands of someone who decided to share them on social media, the targets of the attacks could have had time to thwart them, putting the livelihoods of American personnel carrying them out at great peril. It should also be noted that ironically, just one day before the group chat communication and Yemen strikes, the U.S. Defense Department had warned about the security vulnerabilities of Signal by divulging that entities tied to the Kremlin in Russia were actively trying to hack the messaging app.

The considerable questions and concern over the group chat leak prompted lawmakers in the House Intelligence Committee to hold a hearing in which they interrogated top U.S. intelligence officials such as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about the messages. Various lawmakers stressed that the leak was a terrible breach of security which could have been intercepted by hostile entities and shared with Houthi militants, to the detriment of American military personnel. Some are therefore demanding investigations into the disclosure of the sensitive material, and criticized the “sloppy, careless, and incompetent behavior” of Trump officials. The actions of Defense Secretary Hegseth, in sharing key details about an imminent attack hours before it took place, have been especially condemned, with several Congressmembers calling for his resignation. National Security Advisor Waltz has also drawn heavy critique for sharing real-time updates which dangerously had the potential to reveal the assets that the U.S. had in the region and was relying on for information. Additionally, the analogous and repetitive responses of Gabbard and others to the Congressional questioning caused anger among members of the committee. U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) added that the Trump administration’s dismissive response to the Signal group chat leak is concerning and hypocritical because if lower ranking officials did what is described, they would more than likely lose their clearance and be subject to criminal investigation – rather than have their actions minimized and defended at every turn.

One of the other elements of the leak that was particularly eye-opening involved the clear acknowledgement from Vice President JD Vance that the Trump administration’s actions in Yemen run counter to the alleged “America First” narrative that they have repeatedly espoused – as we laid out in last week’s edition of our newsletter. The texts provided the American public with insight into the intimate internal discussions surrounding this. Despite consistently calling out Europe for not “carrying their weight,” Trump officials are readily admitting that U.S. military strikes in Yemen are actions which benefit Europe and others, not the United States. In the leaked texts, Vance even states that “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now” as he also references the massive discrepancy in the percentage of U.S. trade that runs through the Suez Canal compared to that of Europe. JD Vance’s berating and disdainful recent speech in Munich had already created friction with Europe, and now the leaked messages on Signal are likely to exacerbate this even further. Upon learning of Vance’s comments, some in Europe reacted with indignation but lack of surprise, rebutting his sentiments by arguing that Europeans are not freeloaders and that they have been supporting the U.S. in its geopolitical efforts for many years. For others affiliated with European allies, the incident also raises concern over intelligence sharing with the United States, as one UK official remarked that “It has to make our security services nervous about the intelligence we’re sharing with them.” In addition to Vance, Defense Secretary Hegseth’s comments regarding Europe in the text message exchange drew attention for being highly critical as well, with him stating that he fully shared Vance’s loathing of European free-loading – which he labeled pathetic in all caps.

Due to the magnitude of the concern that has been levied at the incident and the type of information that was shared, Trump officials have been compelled to preserve the messages in the Signal group chat by Federal Judge James Boasberg. The judicial order comes after a watchdog organization, American Oversight, filed a lawsuit arguing that the use of the messaging app in this instance for the disclosure of sensitive military details violated federal records laws. In response to the order, the Trump administration has assured Judge Boasberg that measures are in place to collect and preserve the messages – which will be important moving forward as the fallout over the Signal group chat leak continues.

Arrest of Istanbul Mayor Sparks Mass Protests in Turkey

Mass protests have erupted in Turkey over the past week after the controversial arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The demonstrations are the largest that the country has seen in more than a decade, and have sprung up across provinces in at least two-thirds of the nation. Many contend that the detainment is politically motivated, noting that the timing of it coincides with Imamoglu’s emergence as the official 2028 presidential candidate nominee for the main Turkish opposition party – the Republican People’s Party (CHP) – with the Istanbul mayor widely regarded as the most viable rival to current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The arrest has triggered such a large-scale public reaction because it also comes amid a months-long crackdown against political opposition figures in Turkey, dozens of whom have been jailed pending trials under questionable circumstances. In light of this, analysts view the latest detainment and the mass demonstrations that have followed as a significant moment and test for the state of Turkish politics.

Critics of the current Erdoğan government deem its arrest of Imamoglu to be the latest – and certainly most aggressive – attempt to tighten the regime’s grip on power. Experts point out that while the Turkish political system has had its shortcomings and flaws, the arrest of the main opposition figure in the country on dubious charges is a particularly concerning development. It strongly suggests that the Erdoğan government perceives its popular support is declining, and thus, has made the calculation to take this type of risky action and hope that the purported reasoning behind it is enough to maintain the political status quo. In an effort to try and defend the actions that they are taking against Imamoglu, government officials have claimed that the Turkish judicial system functions as an independent entity. However, even prior to the arrest of Imamoglu, some skeptics of the regime had already been proclaiming during the preceding years that President Erdoğan was initiating measures aimed at eroding democracy like limiting negative coverage in the news media and appointing loyalists as state prosecutors and judges.

Those that are uneasy over the ongoing political climate in Turkey have also voiced their alarm by highlighting the recent moves that the government has made against perceived opponents and critics. Various business sector members, journalists, elected officials, and others have been detained and, often times, indicted on suspicious charges. Since October of last year alone, authorities have removed multiple Istanbul district mayors on accusations of corruption and terrorism, replacing at least one of them with a government appointee. Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu himself appears to have especially elicited Erdoğan government pushback due to his increasing popularity. He was initially elected mayor in what was viewed as an upset victory back in 2019, and was able to win by an even larger margin in a redo election after the government got the results thrown out over alleged voting irregularities. Then, last year, Imamoglu was re-elected after defeating a candidate backed by Erdoğan while his CHP party also outperformed the Turkish president’s party in the capital city of Ankara, therefore seemingly solidifying his position as a serious threat to the incumbent leader of Turkey. The efforts to smear Imamoglu’s political standing and plant the seeds for trying to justify his arrest appear to have been in motion for a while now, with all of this culminating in what transpired last week. It is perhaps unsurprising then that amid news of his detainment, Imamoglu’s alma mater Istanbul University also announced that it had annulled his degree, something that if upheld, would disqualify his ability to seek the presidency as well.

The Turkish government’s heavy-handed response to the mass protests has seen more than 1,400 people detained, including journalists, students, and lawyers. Human rights groups have criticized the arrests and the manner in which authorities have used force to suppress the demonstrations. Even before the outbreak of these recent protests, many of these organizations – similar to Erdoğan regime critics – had been seeking to draw attention to the troubling developments taking place at the expense of human rights and the rule of law in the country. In fact, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has submitted binding judgements regarding several human rights violations which they argue that Turkish authorities have either rejected or ignored. Meanwhile, the Erdoğan government has claimed that the ongoing protests are “illegal” as its justification for carrying out thousands of arrests and exerting control over the media. Ultimately, it will be worth monitoring whether or not circumstances quell in Turkey over the coming days and weeks or if conversely, the widespread disapproval of the government’s actions snowballs and continues to grow.

Backlash Against Tesla Amid Growing Anti-Musk Sentiment

Tesla is facing major backlash in much of Europe and the United States, which has manifested itself in declining sales, anti-Tesla ads and protests, a record high level of trade-ins, and acts of vandalism against the car manufacturer. This is largely attributable to a notable rise in public sentiment that is critical of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. In the time since Musk has been appointed as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by President Donald Trump, he has received growing disapproval for various recent actions and many have lashed out at the company through numerous methods to voice their objection. With his role as de facto head of DOGE, Musk has been empowered by Trump to make broad cuts to federal agencies and lay off government workers without proper transparency and oversight, fueling the retaliation towards him and Tesla.

The backlash against Tesla has become evident both here in the United States and across Europe. In the latter, Tesla car sales in countries like Germany have dropped rapidly by over 50% last month alone, despite the demand for electric vehicles remaining high. Many have been quick to point to some key factors that are propelling this phenomenon, particularly in a place like Germany. One of these appears to be Musk’s controversial double salute while speaking at an inauguration event for President Trump back in late January, a move that received criticism from German political figures and journalists for its resemblance to a Nazi salute. The consumer pushback also follows Musk’s vocal public support of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany party, commonly known as the AfD, which has been ostracized by the German political establishment for its extremist views and for promoting candidates who have used Nazi mantras. All of this has resulted in a recent survey in Germany finding that a whopping 94% of respondents refuse to buy a Tesla due to Musk’s political antics.

On average, throughout the entire continent as a whole, Europe saw a 44% decrease in Tesla sales last month across 25 different countries. Companies like BYD and Polestar have filled the demand for electric cars with impressive sales increases in Europe. The United Kingdom also saw a sizable decrease in Tesla sales but the form of protest getting the most attention there is a series of anti-Tesla bus ads run by a group called “Everyone Hates Elon.” In east London, the group put up an ad last month that reads, “Goes from 0 to 1939 in 3 seconds” and “TESLA The Swasticar.” The advertisement also includes a picture of a Tesla Model X with Musk popping out of the sunroof doing the Nazi salute. The “0 to 1939” is a reference to one of the marketing strategies that Tesla has used where they reveal how fast their cars can go from 0mph to 60mph. This ad likens Musk to the rise of Hitler and start of World War II. “Everyone Hates Elon” has stated their reasoning for the ads as “we can’t let the richest man in the world poison our politics. While nurses use food banks, his wealth grew by $200 billion last year.”

Here in the United States, Americans have been attacking Musk’s wealth directly over the last few months. Since its peak of $479.86 on December 17th, 2024, Tesla’s stock has seen a 48% decline, closing at $248.71 on March 21st, 2025. The advocacy against Tesla and Musk in the U.S. has been largely pushed by the “Tesla Takedown” movement. Last week, nearly 90 Tesla showrooms were met with protestors demanding Musk’s removal from government and condemning the Trump administration’s actions. The movement, started by Alex Winter and Joan Donovan, calls for citizens to sell their Teslas and dump their stock. During the recent fifth week of the movement, “Sell Your Swasticar,” “Truth Trumps Trump,” and “Honk if You Hate Elon” were all popular signs conveying the public’s disapproval of Musk and Trump’s conduct over the preceding two months. While a vast majority of the protests have been peaceful demonstrations, there have been a few isolated incidents of individuals vandalizing Tesla dealerships and charging stations across the country. This has prompted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to create a taskforce to target the small group of perpetrators. Kash Patel, the FBI Director, did not give any details about the taskforce when it was announced, but the FBI’s public affairs assistant director confirmed a joint taskforce with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The “Tesla Takedown” movement in the United States is mainly a critical response to the contentious sweeping cuts being made to the federal government and workforce by DOGE. Musk has fired tens of thousands of people since he was made head of DOGE, with a mark of approval from President Trump at every step of the way. As the individuals behind the anti-Tesla movement in the U.S. have put it, “There’s no walk of life that DOGE doesn’t touch [and] that’s reflected in the diversity of people that come to these protests.” In principle, there are many that agree the aims of DOGE have merit, as there is no doubt regarding the abundance of unnecessary bureaucracy and government waste in the United States. However, the manner in which this has been carried out, through the absence of independent oversight and transparency of DOGE’s massive cuts and indiscriminate firings, has drawn understandable criticism and confusion. Thus, expectedly, people are making their opposition known via the various forms of backlash against Tesla – a brand that has become synonymous with Elon Musk.