Signal Leak Signals Trouble for the Trump Administration

Image via the Atlantic

As if the situation couldn’t get any worse for America, this week Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally given a front-row seat to classified intelligence. Jeffrey Goldberg is an editor for the Atlantic and had access to a Houthi military strike. Here’s what you need to know.

Following the Hamas attacks in Israel and Gaza War, the Houthis in Yemen began launching attacks against Israel and against international shipping. This included bombing, hijacking, and destruction of ships.

Signal is a mobile messaging app which has better security than other messages. The US government does discourage it, but the administration still decided to use it. 

According to the official timeline, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz established a group conversation on Signal that included a lot of high-ranking administration officials, like J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and others. Confusingly, Waltz also requested Goldberg to join, who is the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. 

Waltz was apparently unnoticed until he released the information into the public. On March 14, Vance allegedly complained about Europe and he wanted to delay it. Hegseth responded with the risks of delaying, but Vance then said that he hated bailing out Europe. Hegseth apparently agreed and said, “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC.” Stephen Miller, the Homeland Security Advisor ended the discussion by saying the president gave a green light. Hegseth then gave out crucial launch information, which regarded weapons systems, attack sequencing, launch times, and when weapons would hit their targets. 

This leak is a stain on America. Signal is not approved by the United States government and was used by the highest members of the government. The conversation could potentially violate the Espionage Act and it raised concern about federal record laws.

Congressional meetings were then held and questions were asked. Not much progress was made. So many questions of security and accountability are being raised, and yet, Trump refuses to do anything about it.