US President Donald Trump has downplayed concerns over a major security blunder after a top White House adviser mistakenly included a journalist in a confidential group chat discussing military operations.
National Security Council head Michael Waltz inadvertently added Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat, where officials were planning a strike on Yemen’s Houthi rebels earlier this month.
The mishap has sparked alarm in Washington, raising questions about the security of classified information and the use of commercial messaging apps for sensitive discussions.
However, Trump dismissed the error, telling NBC News, “Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man.” He described the incident as a “glitch” that had “no impact at all” on what he called a “perfectly successful” operation.
Pressed on how Goldberg was added to the chat, Trump suggested a staffer was responsible, saying,
“It was one of Michael’s people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there.”
Despite widespread criticism, Trump defended Waltz, arguing he should not apologise.
“I think he’s doing his best. It’s equipment and technology that’s not perfect, and probably he won’t be using it again, at least not in the very near future.”
The incident has led to intense scrutiny from lawmakers, with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee grilling intelligence officials over whether classified details were exposed.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe insisted that no sensitive information was shared but struggled to recall specifics. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff condemned the White House’s handling of the blunder, saying,
“There’s been no apology, no recognition of the gravity of this error.”
Senator Mark Warner warned that such incidents erode trust with US allies, particularly within the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which includes Australia, the UK, Canada, and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts have questioned why Signal—an app praised for encryption but not designed for government use—was used for high-level military discussions.
While Trump’s team has gone on the offensive, attacking Goldberg and dismissing media scrutiny as a distraction, cybersecurity analysts argue the breach underscores the dangers of casual digital communication in national security matters.
Support Our Journalism
Global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today – with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors – is doing just that. Sustaining this needs support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon and support honest and fearless journalism.