National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has taken “full responsibility” for a shocking security breach that exposed sensitive Yemen military plans after he accidentally added a journalist to a high-level Signal group chat.
Key Insights
- Michael Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, inadvertently added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat containing senior officials discussing Yemen airstrikes.
- The compromised chat included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, potentially violating the Espionage Act.
- Trump publicly defended Waltz as “a good man” while suggesting a lower-level staffer might be responsible, contradicting Waltz’s admission of fault.
- Critics including Senator Mark Warner and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have condemned the breach as careless and potentially criminal.
The Security Breach Explained
In a startling lapse of protocol, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz admitted to creating a Signal group chat that accidentally included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic. The mishap resulted in the exposure of classified discussions about planned military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. High-ranking officials in the chat included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, all of whom were unaware their sensitive communications were being monitored by an outside party.
During an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Waltz acknowledged his role in the breach, stating: “I take full responsibility. I built the group; my job is to make sure everything’s coordinated.” However, he deflected some responsibility by claiming he does not personally know Goldberg and suggesting he was investigating how the journalist’s contact information was added to the secure conversation. The incident has raised serious questions about the administration’s handling of national security information.
Administration Response and Fallout
The White House has scrambled to contain the fallout from this unprecedented security breach. Waltz revealed he consulted with Elon Musk to investigate the technical aspects of the error, raising additional questions about involving private individuals in national security matters. The administration’s damage control efforts have been complicated by President Trump’s contradictory public statements about the incident, which seem to undermine Waltz’s acceptance of responsibility.
“Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Waltz, said on Tuesday he takes “full responsibility” for the group chat of senior administration officials that inadvertently included a journalist and leaked highly sensitive information about planned airstrikes in Yemen.” – Source
Trump publicly defended his national security advisor while suggesting alternative explanations 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. These conflicting narratives have intensified criticism from security experts and political opponents who characterize the incident as evidence of administrative disarray on critical national security matters.
Legal and Security Implications
The incident’s ramifications extend beyond embarrassment to potential legal consequences. Security experts have noted that using Signal for sharing classified information likely violates established protocols and possibly the Espionage Act. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the intelligence committee, have voiced strong criticism of the breach, with Warner describing it as “careless” and potentially criminal. The administration now faces calls for congressional oversight hearings.
“It’s embarrassing, yes. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
The incident highlights the inherent vulnerabilities in digital communications, even when using encrypted platforms like Signal. Military operations require absolute confidentiality, and this breach compromised operational security related to planned actions in Yemen. Security professionals point out that such errors can have life-or-death consequences for military personnel and can undermine strategic objectives. The administration now faces the dual challenge of strengthening its internal security protocols while mitigating potential damage from information already leaked.
Sources:
- Mike Waltz claims ‘full responsibility’ for Signal chat group leaked to journalist
- Trump advisor Waltz takes responsibility for Yemen chat leak
