Adviser admits to coordinating Signal group that shared sensitive details
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz on Tuesday night acknowledged that he takes “full responsibility” for organizing a messaging group on Signal that inadvertently leaked classified plans, including US airstrikes on Houthi militants in Yemen.
“I take full responsibility. I built the — I built the group. My job is to make sure everything’s coordinated,” Mike Waltz said in an interview with Fox News, marking his first public response to the incident.
Accidental leak to journalist raises security concerns
The classified information was mistakenly shared with The Atlantic‘s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. Goldberg reported on Monday that he had been added to a Signal chat where details of military operations in Yemen were discussed, along with other sensitive national security topics.
According to Goldberg, he was invited to an encrypted group called the “Houthi PC small group” on March 13. Within the chat, Waltz instructed his deputy, Alex Wong, to form a “tiger team” to coordinate US actions against the Houthis.
Trump defends administration amid growing scrutiny
The leaks emerged as President Donald Trump continued a large-scale military campaign against Yemen’s Houthis in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping. Goldberg further reported that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared strike-related information, including operational plans, in the chat.
When asked whether a staffer was responsible for the breach, Mike Waltz speculated—without evidence—that Goldberg may have “deliberately” entered the group.
“Now, whether he did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical means is something we’re trying to figure out,” he said.
Waltz also mentioned that he had spoken with tech billionaire Elon Musk, stating, “We’ve got the best technical minds looking at how this happened.”
Trump, downplaying the controversy, denied that classified information had been compromised. He defended his aide and stated that he would “look into” the administration’s use of the Signal app.
The Atlantic responds to accusations
Following Mike Waltz’s remarks, The Atlantic issued a statement rejecting claims that its reporting was politically motivated.
“Attempts to disparage and discredit The Atlantic, our editor, and our reporting follow an obvious playbook by elected officials and others in power who are hostile to journalists and the First Amendment rights of all Americans,” spokesperson Anna Bross said.
She reaffirmed that the publication remains committed to independent reporting in the public interest.