Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz unintentionally invited Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg into a personal Signal chat discussing possible US attacks in Yemen, said three people briefed on the issue. The gaffe was caused by a several-month-old error during the 2024 campaign when Waltz saved Goldberg’s number under the wrong contact unknowingly.
The episode, revealed in an internal White House probe, angered Trump who was more annoyed by the breach of operational security and by Waltz having Goldberg’s phone number. Trump has long been critical of the Atlantic and its editor. Though Trump briefly contemplated dismissing Waltz, the former president decided against it, not wishing to seem as though the media had prompted him.
It all started last October when Goldberg sent Trump’s campaign an email regarding a critical piece. The email was forwarded to Waltz by a campaign spokesperson, complete with Goldberg’s signature and phone number. An iPhone’s automatic contact-suggestion feature saved Goldberg’s number under the wrong contact for Brian Hughes, who is now the National Security Council’s spokesperson.
Waltz established a Signal group called “Houthi PC small group” in March to organize US military response strategies. Waltz intended to add Hughes and accidentally added Goldberg. It was discovered later when sensitive talks were in progress.
However, Waltz admitted he had never talked with Goldberg, but the editor did admit talking with him but refused to comment further. The White House remained mum. No official response has come from there.
Trump was said to have accepted Waltz’s defense and has publicly been supportive ever since. The administration justified using Signal, with the absence of a secure option for real-time inter-agency communication a shortfall that also was present during the Biden administration.
Even with the humiliating gaffe, Waltz has not been removed from office, and the group chat blunder has seen internal audits of digital communication policies at the White House.
