In yet another chapter of relentless attacks on the America First agenda, NBC’s *Meet the Press* saw Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg targeting Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL) with allegations that he had been added to a Signal group chat by mistake. This controversy erupted when Goldberg—a known antagonist of President Trump—somehow ended up in a Signal chat containing sensitive military discussions.
Goldberg has long been perceived by conservatives as a mouthpiece for the Democratic establishment. In an unexpected twist, he found himself inadvertently added to a Signal chat by Congressman Waltz, who explained this as an honest error. Waltz, who shouldered full responsibility, elaborated on this during an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.
On Fox News, Laura Ingraham pressed Waltz hard about how Goldberg’s number wound up in his phone’s contact list and consequently in the chat. Waltz stood his ground, suggesting the number was “sucked in somehow.” He asserted that it appeared someone else was supposed to be in the chat instead of Goldberg.
Mike Waltz:
Well, look, a staffer wasn’t responsible. Look, I take full responsibility. I built the group. My job is to make sure everything’s coordinated. But how does that—I don’t mean to be pedantic here, but how did the number get into the chat? Have you ever had somebody’s contact that shows their name, and then you have somebody else’s number there?Laura Ingraham:
I never make those mistakes.Mike Waltz:
You’ve got somebody else’s number on someone else’s contact. Of course, I didn’t see this loser in the group. It looked like someone else. Now, whether he did it deliberately or it happened in some other technical means is something we’re trying to figure out.Laura Ingraham:
A staffer did not put his contact information?Mike Waltz:
Of course not. No.Laura Ingraham:
But how did it end up in your phone?Mike Waltz:
That’s what we’re trying to figure out.Laura Ingraham:
But that’s a pretty big problem.Mike Waltz:
That is why we’ve got the best technical minds, right? That’s disturbing. I’m sure everybody out there has had a contact where it said one person and then a different phone number.Laura Ingraham:
But you’ve never talked to him before, so how’s the number on your phone? I’m not an expert in any of this, but it’s just curious. How’s the number on your phone? Someone sent you that contact?Mike Waltz:
Well, if you have somebody else’s contact and then somehow it gets sucked in…Laura Ingraham:
Was there someone else supposed to be on the chat that wasn’t on the chat—that you thought was on the chat? That you thought was on there?Mike Waltz:
The person that I thought was on there was never on there. It was this guy.Laura Ingraham:
Who was that person?Mike Waltz:
Well, I’m not—look, Laura, I take responsibility. I built the group. But look, that’s the part we have to figure out. That’s the part that we were… Embarrassing, yes, but Pete and I are veterans. We know these operations. He has been an excellent Secretary of Defense, and this was an operation that—I mean, it amazes me. I guess the Democrats were fine to leave all the sea lanes shut down. We’re fine to have destroyers fired on dozens of times by this terrorist group and fine to have Iran keep supplying them with missiles. That was okay. The President takes decisive action. Now we’re seeing some real success in taking down their air defenses, opening the sea lanes, taking out their leadership. We don’t want to talk about that. We don’t want to talk about this.
Goldberg, however, was unconvinced, claiming on national television that Waltz was lying about their prior interactions. Goldberg was dismissive of the technical mishap explanation.
Jeffrey Goldberg:
“Well, this isn’t The Matrix. Phone numbers don’t just get sucked into other phones. I don’t know what he’s talking about there. You know, very frequently in journalism, the most obvious explanation is the explanation. My phone number was in his phone because my phone number is in his phone. He’s telling everyone that he’s never met me or spoken to me. That’s simply not true. I understand why he’s doing it, but this has become a somewhat farcical situation. There’s no subterfuge here. My number was in his phone. He mistakenly added me to the group chat. There we go.”
Earlier in the week, when pressed by CBS News about his relationship with Waltz, Goldberg remained tight-lipped.
The drama intensified with claims from investigative reporter Paul Sperry that Waltz was a source for Goldberg during his tenure on the House Intelligence Committee. Despite Waltz’s denial, an intelligence official contended that Waltz had indeed been in communication with Goldberg.
As evidence, a photo surfaced showing Waltz standing next to Goldberg at a 2021 event at the French Embassy, which was moderated by Goldberg himself.
Michael Waltz claimed that he’s “never met, don’t know, never communicated with” Jeffrey Goldberg.
Here’s a photo of Waltz standing next to Goldberg during a 2021 event at the French Embassy.
The event Waltz attended—a Q&A with a French filmmaker—was moderated by Goldberg.
— Anna Bower (@AnnaBower)
March 26, 2025
