What's happened
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a secret group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen. The error, stemming from a contact mix-up, led to an internal investigation and raised concerns about national security protocols within the Trump administration.
What's behind the headline?
Key Insights:
- Miscommunication and Technology: The incident highlights the risks associated with using unclassified messaging apps for sensitive discussions. The reliance on technology, such as iPhone's contact suggestion feature, can lead to significant security breaches.
- Political Ramifications: Trump's decision not to fire Waltz reflects a strategic choice to avoid giving media outlets like The Atlantic a victory. This decision underscores the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and certain media entities.
- Implications for National Security: The inclusion of a journalist in a military discussion raises questions about the protocols in place for safeguarding sensitive information. This incident may prompt a reevaluation of communication practices within the administration.
- Public Perception: The incident could affect public trust in the administration's handling of national security, especially given the casual approach to sensitive discussions revealed by this blunder.
What the papers say
The Guardian reported that the internal investigation revealed a series of missteps leading to the incident, noting that Trump was more upset about Waltz having Goldberg's number than the breach itself. The Times of Israel elaborated on the timeline of events, detailing how Goldberg's contact information was saved due to a text message mishap. TechCrunch highlighted Waltz's initial claim that the number was 'sucked in' by his phone, which Goldberg dismissed as unrealistic. The Mirror emphasized the broader implications for national security and the casual approach taken by the administration regarding sensitive information.
How we got here
The incident began when Goldberg emailed the Trump campaign last October, leading to his contact information being inadvertently saved in Waltz's phone. This culminated in Waltz mistakenly including Goldberg in a Signal chat with senior officials discussing military operations.
Go deeper
- What were the consequences of this blunder?
- How does this affect national security protocols?
- What has been the media's reaction to this incident?
Common question
More on these topics
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Jeffrey Mark Goldberg is an American journalist and editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine. During his nine years at The Atlantic prior to becoming editor, Goldberg became known for his coverage of foreign affairs.
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.