Miscommunication Leads to Leak of U.S. Military Plans Involving Journalist

A significant breach of confidentiality occurred when U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz mistakenly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a private Signal chat group discussing military strategies related to U.S. operations in Yemen. The incident has raised serious questions about the handling of sensitive information within the Trump administration.

Waltz has acknowledged the error, clarifying that he did not intend to add Goldberg to the group. According to reports, this miscommunication traces back to the 2024 presidential campaign period. In October of that year, Goldberg sought clarification from then-President Donald Trump regarding criticisms he faced over his treatment of injured military personnel. In response, Trump's team solicited assistance from Waltz, leading to the unintentional inclusion of Goldberg in a sensitive chat.

The series of events began with an email from Goldberg to Trump, which included his contact details. This email was forwarded to Brian Hughes, Trump's spokesperson at the time. Hughes allegedly copied the email's contents and sent them to Waltz, who mistakenly saved Goldberg's phone number under the name of Hughes.

On March 13, 2025, Waltz intended to add Hughes to a Signal group comprised of top U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, and CIA Director Tulsi Gabbard, discussing an imminent military action against Houthi forces in Yemen. However, due to the earlier mix-up, Waltz inadvertently invited Goldberg instead.

The error was not discovered until after Goldberg published an exposé detailing the sensitive discussions. Initially, President Trump downplayed the situation, and the administration has yet to make a formal statement regarding the incident. This lapse in protocol has prompted scrutiny of the administration's communications and security measures.

Waltz has stated that he had never met or communicated with Goldberg prior to this incident. However, Goldberg has publicly acknowledged that he does know Waltz and has interacted with him, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.

As investigations continue into the implications of this breach, the Trump administration faces mounting pressure to address the vulnerabilities in its handling of classified information and internal communications.