National Security Advisor Mike Waltz fell on his sword Tuesday, taking responsibility for a security breach that exposed sensitive military plans when a journalist was accidentally added to a high-level Signal group chat discussing Yemen airstrikes.
Quick Takes
- Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor, took “full responsibility” for accidentally adding Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat discussing Yemen strike plans
- The sensitive group chat included vice-president JD Vance, defense secretary Pete Hegseth, and secretary of state Marco Rubio
- Waltz consulted with Elon Musk to investigate the technical error while President Trump defended him, calling him a “good man”
- Critics, including Senator Mark Warner and Senator Chuck Schumer, condemned the breach as careless and potentially criminal
- The use of Signal for national security discussions may have violated the Espionage Act, as it’s not approved for classified information
Security Breach Exposes Military Strategy
A significant national security breach occurred when top Trump administration officials inadvertently included Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat containing sensitive information about planned military strikes in Yemen. The error revealed highly classified operational details to an unauthorized person, raising serious questions about information security protocols in the administration. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who created the group chat, has taken full responsibility for the mistake, which potentially exposed critical military planning to public scrutiny and jeopardized operational security.
The high-level group chat included an impressive roster of senior officials: Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio among others. This concentration of top leadership discussing sensitive military operations makes the breach particularly concerning from a national security perspective. While appearing on Fox News with Laura Ingraham, Waltz acknowledged his error but could not provide a clear explanation for how Goldberg was added to the chat, only stating that he does not personally know the journalist whose number somehow ended up in the secure conversation.
Contradictory Explanations Emerge
In the aftermath of the security incident, conflicting explanations have emerged from administration officials. During his Fox News appearance, Waltz admitted he created the group chat but struggled to explain exactly how the breach occurred. Looking for answers, Waltz reportedly consulted with Elon Musk to investigate potential technical failures that might have led to the inappropriate addition. This unusual step of seeking assistance from a private sector CEO rather than government security experts has raised eyebrows among national security professionals.
“It’s embarrassing, yes. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
President Trump offered a different explanation that seemed to contradict Waltz’s accountability claim. In public remarks, Trump suggested a lower-level staffer working with Waltz might have been responsible for the breach. “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 this contradiction, the President defended Waltz as a “good man” and characterized the incident as a minor glitch rather than a serious security failure.
Legal and Security Implications
The fallout from this security breach extends beyond embarrassment to potential legal consequences. Critics, including Democratic Senators Mark Warner and Chuck Schumer, have condemned the incident as careless and potentially criminal. Security experts have pointed out that using Signal, an encrypted messaging app, for discussing classified national security matters may itself violate the Espionage Act, as the platform is not government-approved for sharing classified information. This raises questions about proper protocols being followed for sensitive discussions at the highest levels of government.
“I take full responsibility. I built the group; my job is to make sure everything’s coordinated.”
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between convenience and security in government communications. While apps like Signal offer strong encryption, they may not meet the rigorous security standards required for national security matters. This breach serves as a stark reminder of the constant vigilance needed to protect sensitive information in an increasingly digital world. As investigations continue into how this error occurred, the administration faces the challenge of rebuilding trust in its ability to safeguard critical national security information during sensitive military planning operations.
Sources:
- Mike Waltz claims ‘full responsibility’ for Signal chat group leaked to journalist
- Trump advisor Waltz takes responsibility for Yemen chat leak
