Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Apr 7: A simple contact-saving error on an iPhone led to an unexpected security hiccup in the US administration, when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a private Signal group meant for top-level discussions on potential US military action in Yemen.
According to The Guardian, the group titled “Houthi PC small group” was set up last month by US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and included senior officials coordinating responses to Houthi rebel threats in the Middle East. However, instead of adding National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes, Waltz inadvertently added Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
The confusion dates back to the 2024 US election campaign when Goldberg had emailed the Trump campaign about a critical piece on Donald Trump’s comments regarding wounded American veterans. The email, which included Goldberg’s contact details, was internally shared with Waltz for briefing purposes. Though there was no direct communication, Waltz’s iPhone seemingly auto-saved Goldberg’s number under Hughes’ name due to Apple’s contact suggestion feature.
This mistake came to light on March 13, when the group began exchanging messages about classified matters. A White House IT probe confirmed that no sensitive information was leaked, and the encrypted Signal app had been temporarily approved for secure inter-agency discussions.
President Donald Trump was reportedly less concerned about the security lapse and more irked that Waltz had Goldberg’s number saved. Though furious at first, he refrained from taking action against Waltz to avoid giving media outlets, particularly The Atlantic, a narrative win early in his second term.
Speaking to Fox News, Waltz later remarked that the journalist’s contact had likely been “sucked” into his phone by the iPhone’s automatic features. Meanwhile, Goldberg declined to elaborate but stated, “I’m not going to comment on my relationship with Mike Waltz beyond saying I do know him and have spoken to him.”
The incident has sparked questions about digital protocols and the reliance on third-party apps for sensitive government communication, even as no security breach occurred.