A shocking blunder in the Trump administration has left national security officials scrambling to explain how a top-secret military plan ended up in the hands of a journalist. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is now taking the heat for the security breach.
At a glance:
• National Security Advisor Mike Waltz accepted “full responsibility” for accidentally adding journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a high-level Signal group chat
• The chat contained sensitive details about planned military operations in Yemen
• The group included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio
• Waltz admitted creating the group but has not provided a clear explanation for how the error occurred
• President Trump defended Waltz as a “good man” while suggesting a lower-level staffer might be responsible
Waltz Takes Responsibility While Questions Remain
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz has stepped forward to take “full responsibility” for a major security breach that occurred when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to a high-level Signal group chat. The chat contained sensitive information about planned U.S. military operations in Yemen, and the leak is therefore considered a significant national security concern.
During an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Waltz admitted his role in the embarrassing incident. “I take full responsibility. I built the group; my job is to make sure everything’s coordinated,” Waltz stated.
The group chat included high-profile Trump administration officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Confusion Over How The Breach Occurred
Waltz has provided few details about exactly how Goldberg ended up on the sensitive chat, only acknowledging that it was “embarrassing” and that they would “get to the bottom of it.” The national security advisor has reportedly consulted with Elon Musk to investigate the technical aspects of the error, but no conclusive explanation has emerged.
President Trump offered a different explanation for the breach, suggesting it might have been someone working with Waltz at a lower level. “We believe somebody that was on the line, with permission, somebody that worked with Mike Waltz at a lower level, had Goldberg’s number or call through the app, and somehow this guy ended up on the call,” Trump stated.
Despite the serious nature of the breach, Trump has defended his national security advisor, describing Waltz as a “good man” and downplaying the incident as a minor glitch.
S*it happens! Trump defends his advisor after leak from secret group chat
After The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief was accidentally added to a closed conversation discussing a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen, Trump called it a “technical glitch” and publicly backed… pic.twitter.com/dAtADqME4X
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 25, 2025
Legal and Security Implications
Critics including Senator Mark Warner and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have condemned the breach as careless and potentially criminal, with some suggesting it could violate the Espionage Act.
Of particular concern is the use of Signal for sharing classified military information, as the app is not officially approved for such communications. This aspect of the incident has drawn additional scrutiny from security experts who note that proper channels exist for sharing classified information among high-level officials.
Mr. Waltz insists that he does not personally know Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic who received the information. The breach appears to be the result of human error rather than deliberate action, but critics say it still represents a significant failure in operational security procedures.
