US NSA takes responsibility after journalist accidentally added to secret military chat, sparking security concerns

New Delhi, Mar 26: US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has taken responsibility for creating a group chat where top officials discussed military strikes in Yemen. A journalist was accidentally added to the chat, leading to concerns about a security breach. Waltz admitted the mistake and called it embarrassing. President Donald Trump and US intelligence officials have dismissed the security risks, insisting that no classified information was shared.

However, both Democrats and some Republicans are calling for an investigation. Many lawmakers believe the situation is a serious national security failure.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly added to the Signal chat by a user named Mike Waltz. In an article revealing the incident, Goldberg reported that he saw classified details about the US strikes in Yemen, including weapons, targets, and timing, two hours before they happened.

He chose not to publish this sensitive content. Waltz has not explained how Goldberg ended up in the chat. He denied that anyone on his staff was responsible and suggested another contact was supposed to be in the journalist’s place. He also said he had sought help from Elon Musk to figure out what went wrong.

President Trump has played down the incident, calling it a minor glitch that had no impact on military operations. He suggested that someone on Waltz’s team had Goldberg’s number, which may have led to the mix-up. Top intelligence officials, including US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, testified at a Senate hearing, denying that classified information was shared. But Democrats are sceptical, pointing to Goldberg’s report. They have asked for full transparency on the matter.

The group chat included accounts linked to Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In messages shared by Goldberg, officials discussed making Europe pay for US protection of key shipping lanes. Waltz’s account wrote that his team was working with defense and state officials to determine costs, as requested by Trump. Vance’s account complained that the strikes would mainly benefit Europe and expressed frustration over helping them again. Hegseth’s account agreed, calling Europe’s reliance on US protection “pathetic.”

The leak has caused a major controversy in Washington. This incident has raised alarms about how top officials handle sensitive discussions and whether national security protocols are being properly followed.