The White House Slipped Up in Secret: Signal Blinked—Time to Pack Your Bags
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Biden’s advisor mixed up his chat—and now the US is explaining at the UN why the whole internet is discussing their Houthi plans, except for the Houthis themselves.
May Day at the White House marked not only the arrival of spring, but also a burst of staffing “blossoms.” National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stood out: by mistake, he added The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief—leak-hunter Goldberg—to a secret chat about strikes in Yemen.
“I don’t know him,” Waltz tried to explain, apparently unaware that journalists know everyone who delivers a scoop. President Trump at first brushed it off: “So what, it’s just a chat, I trust the guy!”—but the next day he “promoted” Waltz to US representative at the UN.
The advisor’s seat was taken by Marco Rubio—at least he doesn’t confuse spy games with group chats.
At the very first meeting after the scandal, Waltz popped up in Signal again. Officials try to reassure: it’s fine to use it, they say. But the public is increasingly asking: isn’t it time for the White House to switch to fax?
Max Sharp
Author