According to The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, he was unknowingly added to the encrypted Signal chat by Michael Waltz, then-National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump. The group, titled Houthi PC Small Group, included top officials from the White House, CIA, Pentagon, and intelligence agencies coordinating the attack.

Goldberg first received an invitation to connect with Waltz on Signal on March 11, assuming it was a routine contact. However, two days later, he discovered he had been added to the classified discussion. For nearly 72 hours, he had access to sensitive conversations, including a message from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President J.D. Vance, and intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard debating the timing and consequences of the operation.

By March 14, discussions had escalated, with concerns raised about oil price spikes and geopolitical fallout. Vance reportedly expressed doubts about the operation, suggesting it be postponed, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed European allies as “freeloaders.”

The following day, March 15, the strike was executed, killing more than 50 people. Chat participants celebrated the success with emojis, including fist bumps and flag icons.

Goldberg eventually exited the group but noted that no one questioned his presence or identity throughout the process. His account raises troubling questions: Did officials realize a journalist was in the chat? Was this a careless oversight or systemic negligence? And how secure are these high-stakes discussions if they occur via messaging apps like Signal, which automatically erase messages after weeks?

The incident underscores potential violations of national security laws, raising concerns about the handling of classified communications at the highest levels of government.