Mystery Deepens: Why Did National Security Adviser Michael Waltz Have Jeffrey Goldberg’s Contact Information?
Washington, D.C. – March 24, 2025 – The unfolding scandal surrounding the Trump administration’s accidental leak of military plans via a Signal group chat has taken a perplexing turn, with new questions emerging about why National Security Adviser Michael Waltz had The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg’s contact information saved in his phone. The revelation, first detailed in Goldberg’s bombshell article published today in The Atlantic, has sparked intense speculation about the relationship—if any—between the high-ranking Trump official and the prominent journalist, amplifying an already unprecedented national security blunder.
The Incident: A Breach Begins with a Connection
The saga began on March 11, 2025, when Goldberg received a Signal connection request from a user identified as “Michael Waltz.” Signal, an encrypted messaging app favored by journalists and privacy-conscious individuals, requires a phone number to establish contact. Goldberg, a veteran reporter known for his foreign policy coverage, accepted the request, initially unsure whether it was genuinely from Waltz—Trump’s national security adviser since January 20, 2025—or an impersonator. “I did not assume that the request was from the actual Michael Waltz,” Goldberg wrote, citing the administration’s fraught history with the press (The Atlantic, March 24, 2025).
Two days later, on March 13, Waltz added Goldberg to a group chat titled “Houthi PC small group,” where senior officials—including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—discussed imminent U.S. military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. On March 15, Hegseth shared a “TEAM UPDATE” with operational details, unaware that Goldberg remained in the chat. The strikes commenced shortly before 2 p.m. ET, aligning with the timeline Goldberg had seen (The Atlantic, March 24, 2025). The National Security Council later confirmed the chat’s authenticity, calling it an “inadvertent” error (Washington Post, March 24, 2025).
The Central Question: Why Was Goldberg in Waltz’s Contacts?
At the heart of this incident lies a puzzling detail: Waltz had Goldberg’s phone number saved, enabling the initial Signal request and subsequent group chat addition. Signal does not allow users to connect without a pre-existing phone number match, meaning Waltz either manually entered Goldberg’s number or had it stored from a prior interaction. This raises a critical question: why would a senior Trump official, operating in an administration often hostile to mainstream media, have the personal contact of a journalist from a publication Trump has repeatedly derided?
Goldberg’s own account offers no definitive answer. “I have met him in the past,” he noted, hinting at a possible prior professional encounter, though he provided no specifics (The Atlantic, March 24, 2025). Waltz, a former Green Beret and three-term Florida congressman with a robust national security background, has not publicly addressed the matter as of 1:51 PM PDT today. His office declined comment, leaving the origins of their connection shrouded in mystery.
Theories and Speculation
Several theories have emerged to explain this anomaly:
Professional Acquaintance: Waltz’s pre-administration career included frequent media appearances, such as on Fox News, where he discussed national security issues (CNN Politics, November 11, 2024). It’s plausible he crossed paths with Goldberg—a fixture in Washington journalism circles—during a policy event, interview, or panel. Goldberg’s extensive reporting on Middle East conflicts, including his 2016 “Obama Doctrine” piece (The Atlantic, April 2016), might have necessitated contact with figures like Waltz, then a congressional voice on defense.
Mistaken Identity: The administration has suggested Waltz intended to add someone else with the initials “JG”—possibly U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer—and erred by selecting Goldberg’s number (Daily Mail, March 24, 2025). This theory hinges on Waltz having both contacts saved, yet it fails to explain why Goldberg’s number was in his phone to begin with, unless it was inherited from a shared contact list or prior role.
Data Sharing or Error: Waltz could have acquired Goldberg’s number indirectly—via a staffer, a shared database, or even a typo from a previous administration contact list. Signal’s privacy features make it unlikely he randomly guessed the number, pointing to a pre-existing link.
Waltz’s Background and Media Relations
Waltz, 51, brings a decorated military resume—27 years in the Army, four Bronze Stars—and a political career marked by hawkish stances on Iran and China (CBS News, November 11, 2024). As a congressman, he was a vocal critic of perceived security lapses, notably Hillary Clinton’s private email server in 2016, making his use of Signal for sensitive discussions ironic (X Post, @anniefofani, 12:51 PDT, March 24, 2025). While not known for cozying up to liberal-leaning outlets like The Atlantic, Waltz’s transition to national security adviser may have broadened his contacts, including journalists he once kept at arm’s length.
Goldberg, meanwhile, is no stranger to high-level sources. His interviews with figures like Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Benjamin Netanyahu (The Atlantic, various dates) suggest a Rolodex deep with insider numbers—potentially including Waltz’s from a past exchange. Yet, neither has confirmed a direct prior relationship.
Fallout and Implications
The White House has downplayed the breach’s severity, with NSC spokesman Brian Hughes asserting, “The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security” (Axios, March 24, 2025). President Trump, when asked, claimed ignorance: “I don’t know anything about it” (AP News, March 24, 2025). However, congressional figures like Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) have demanded accountability, with some eyeing Waltz as the fall guy (Axios, March 24, 2025).
The unanswered question of Waltz’s possession of Goldberg’s contact fuels broader concerns. Was this a sloppy mistake by a seasoned operator, or does it hint at undisclosed ties between the administration and the press? Legal experts note that if the chat contained classified data, Waltz’s actions could flirt with Espionage Act violations (The Guardian, March 24, 2025), though prosecuting him—or Goldberg—remains a long shot.