A technological mishap involving National Security Adviser Michael Waltz's iPhone has sparked concerns about secure communications within President Trump's administration.
According to Breitbart, a White House investigation revealed that Waltz inadvertently saved Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg's phone number under a campaign spokesman's contact information, leading to Goldberg's unexpected inclusion in a classified military discussion.
The incident occurred when Brian Hughes, a former Trump campaign spokesman who now serves as National Security Council spokesman, forwarded an email query from Goldberg containing his contact information to Waltz during the 2024 presidential campaign. During a routine contact suggestion update on Waltz's iPhone, Goldberg's number was mistakenly saved under Hughes' contact details.
The mix-up gained significance when Waltz created a Signal group chat to discuss U.S. military operations against the Houthis. The encrypted messaging platform has been the approved communication method for government officials since the Biden administration, and the Trump White House continued its use during the transition.
The absence of an alternative secure messaging platform across different agencies contributed to the continued reliance on Signal. The Biden administration had not developed a replacement system during their term, leaving officials with limited options for real-time communications.
The incident highlighted the challenges of maintaining secure communications while coordinating across various government agencies. Despite the security concerns, Signal remained the preferred choice for official communications over regular text messaging chains.
President Trump briefly contemplated dismissing Waltz from his position following the incident. The president's primary concern centered on Waltz having Goldberg's number in his phone rather than the use of Signal for discussing military strikes.
Trump ultimately decided against firing Waltz, partly to avoid giving the Atlantic and other media outlets the satisfaction of forcing out a cabinet official mere weeks into his second term. The findings of the White House review also influenced his decision to retain Waltz.
In a show of continued support, Trump has maintained a working relationship with Waltz, including traveling together as recently as Thursday. This public display of confidence suggests the president's acceptance of the review's conclusions regarding the accidental nature of the breach.
The revelation of the group chat's contents by Goldberg created ammunition for Trump critics, who targeted various administration members, particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The incident sparked discussions about communication security protocols within the administration.
Some within Trump's circle have expressed sympathy for Waltz's situation, acknowledging that Signal was an authorized application. The lack of alternative secure messaging platforms across agencies has been cited as a mitigating factor in the incident.
The administration's decision to use Signal followed established precedent, as it had been employed during the transition period. Officials were explicitly instructed to use the encrypted platform instead of conventional text messaging chains.
The White House review's findings have provided clarity on the sequence of events that led to the security breach. The investigation traced the origin of the mistake to a simple technological error during an iPhone contact update. The incident has prompted discussions about developing more secure communication protocols for sensitive government communications. However, the current administration continues to rely on Signal due to its established track record and widespread adoption across agencies.
