A high-stakes national security communication mishap unfolded when Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg found himself inadvertently added to a confidential Signal group chat involving top Trump administration officials.
According to Fox News, President Donald Trump revealed that a staff member from National Security Advisor Mike Waltz's office was responsible for including Goldberg in the encrypted messaging group discussing plans for an upcoming military strike against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The group chat, named "Houthi PC Small Group," included several prominent administration figures such as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance. The revelation came after Goldberg published an article on Monday detailing his unexpected access to the sensitive communications, where he witnessed real-time discussions about military operations targeting the Iran-backed terrorist group.
Democrats have responded to the security breach with calls for immediate action, demanding both Hegseth and Waltz's resignations from their security positions. Some lawmakers have pushed for congressional testimony to address the incident's implications for national security protocols.
The White House has moved quickly to contain potential fallout from the incident. Communications Director Steven Cheung characterized the Atlantic's story as an attempt by Trump opponents to manufacture controversy, comparing it to previous allegations against the administration.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that no classified information was compromised during the incident, maintaining that the successful execution of the Houthi strikes remained the administration's primary focus.
President Trump has publicly defended Waltz, confirming that the national security advisor will retain his position despite the communication breach. The president described the incident as a simple mistake, downplaying its significance.
Trump quoted during an NBC phone interview: "Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man."
The administration's technical experts and legal teams are currently reviewing the incident to prevent similar security breaches in the future. Waltz himself addressed concerns about potential security vulnerabilities in Signal communications.
Despite the controversy surrounding the leaked communications, the military operation against Houthi targets proceeded as planned. The strikes were carried out approximately two hours after the discussion in the Signal chat, with explosions reported in Yemen's capital city of Sanaa.
The White House has maintained that Goldberg's inadvertent inclusion in the group chat did not compromise the operation's effectiveness. President Trump specifically stated that the journalist's presence had "no impact at all" on the Yemen strike.
National Security Advisor Waltz emphasized that the administration's focus should remain on its broader achievements in foreign policy, including progress in the Middle East and recent diplomatic breakthroughs in Europe.
The security breach involving Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg occurred when a staff member from National Security Advisor Mike Waltz's office accidentally included him in a sensitive Signal group chat discussing military operations against Houthi rebels. While Democrats have called for resignations and congressional testimony, President Trump has defended his national security team and confirmed that Waltz will maintain his position. The White House Counsel's Office is currently reviewing communication protocols while technical experts analyze potential vulnerabilities in the Signal platform to prevent future security breaches.
