Waltz mistakenly adds Atlantic editor's number to secret group chat
- National Security Adviser Michael Waltz mistakenly added Jeffrey Goldberg’s number to a private Signal chat meant for top officials, thinking it was Brian Hughes' number.
- This incident occurred after Goldberg reached out to the Trump campaign during the 2024 presidential election, leading to a miscommunication.
- President Donald Trump considered firing Waltz over the mistake but ultimately decided against it, preferring not to give the Atlantic any advantage in personnel matters.
In the United States, a significant error involving National Security Adviser Michael Waltz came to light recently. Waltz accidentally included the contact information of Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in a private group chat with senior administration officials. This incident is rooted in a misunderstanding that dates back to the 2024 presidential campaign. At that time, Goldberg reached out to the Trump campaign for a comment on a story, and Waltz, who was serving as the campaign's national security surrogate, was looped in. The Trump campaign's press team forwarded Goldberg's email to then-Trump spokesman Brian Hughes. Hughes subsequently sent Waltz an email that contained Goldberg's phone number, which Waltz saved under Hughes' contact information due to his iPhone's contact suggestion feature. The error went unnoticed for months until Waltz utilized Signal, the encrypted messaging platform, to create a group chat named 'Houthi PC small group,' where discussions focused on military strategies against the Houthis in Yemen. This mistake became problematic when the contents of the chat were revealed, leading to discussions regarding the potential consequences for Waltz. Reports indicated that President Donald Trump even contemplated firing Waltz over the blunder, expressing more frustration over the presence of Goldberg's number in Waltz's phone than the unauthorized group chat discussions. The fallout from this incident reflected broader tensions within Trump's administration when it came to communication protocols and the scrutiny of personal relationships with media figures. Despite Trump’s initial anger, he decided not to dismiss Waltz, wanting to avoid giving the Atlantic leverage in influencing personnel decisions early in his second term. Following the event, Waltz has reportedly garnered sympathy from some within the Trump administration, as the use of Signal during their tenure was encouraged to maintain secure communications. The incident encapsulated the challenges faced by those operating at high levels within government, where digital errors can lead to significant political repercussions. The issue highlights the complexity of modern communication, particularly in political contexts, where even a small oversight can have wide-ranging implications.