Waltz Says He Doesn’t Know Atlantic Editor He Invited To War Chat—As Trump Defends Aide

Forbes - Mar 25th, 2025
Open on Forbes

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is embroiled in controversy after reportedly allowing Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg access to a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military plans against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Waltz claimed he has never communicated with Goldberg and is investigating how the editor was added to the chat. President Donald Trump defended Waltz, attributing the mishap to a staff error, and expressed confidence in Waltz's capabilities despite frustration within the administration over the incident.

This incident raises concerns about the security and management of sensitive information within the Trump administration. While Trump denied knowledge of the leak's specifics and downplayed the severity of the information shared, several Republican lawmakers criticized the handling of classified data, urging transparency and accountability. The situation underscores the challenges of secure communication in government and the potential political fallout from mishandling sensitive information, with debates continuing over the use of apps like Signal for official discussions.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The story provides a comprehensive account of a significant national security incident involving Mike Waltz and Jeffrey Goldberg. It effectively captures the complexity of the situation by including multiple perspectives and reactions from key figures. However, the reliance on unnamed sources and the presence of conflicting accounts highlight areas needing further verification. The narrative is timely and relevant, addressing issues of public interest and potential impact on government transparency and accountability. While the article is generally clear and engaging, simplifying some sections could enhance readability. Overall, the story responsibly presents a controversial issue, encouraging informed discussion and consideration of broader implications.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story provides a detailed account of the incident involving Mike Waltz and Jeffrey Goldberg, but certain aspects require further verification. For instance, Waltz's claim of never having communicated with Goldberg contrasts with Goldberg's assertion of having met Waltz twice, which creates a discrepancy. Additionally, the story reports Trump and other officials denying that classified information was shared in the chat, yet a National Security spokesperson confirmed the chat's authenticity, raising questions about the nature of the information exchanged. These inconsistencies highlight areas needing verification and suggest potential inaccuracies in the narrative.

6
Balance

The article attempts to present multiple perspectives, including those of Waltz, Trump, and various unnamed administration officials. It also includes reactions from Republican lawmakers, providing a range of viewpoints. However, the story leans slightly towards the administration's narrative, particularly in emphasizing Trump's defense of Waltz and attributing the incident to a staffer's error. The article could benefit from a more balanced representation by including more perspectives from independent experts or opposition voices.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and structured logically, with a coherent narrative that outlines the key events and reactions. It uses straightforward language, making it accessible to a broad audience. However, the inclusion of numerous quotes and attributions can occasionally disrupt the flow, requiring readers to navigate through dense information to understand the core issue. Simplifying some sections could improve overall clarity.

6
Source quality

The story relies on a mix of named and unnamed sources, including direct quotes from Trump, Waltz, and Goldberg. The use of unnamed administration officials and a 'person close to the White House' reduces the transparency of source credibility. While the inclusion of prominent figures lends some authority, the reliance on anonymous sources and lack of direct attribution for some claims may affect the perceived reliability of the reporting.

5
Transparency

The article provides limited context about how the information was gathered, particularly regarding the Signal chat incident. While it quotes various figures and mentions unnamed sources, it lacks detailed explanation of the methodology used to verify claims. The article does not sufficiently disclose potential conflicts of interest or biases that may affect the reporting, which could enhance transparency and reader trust.

Sources

  1. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/messages-yemen-war-plans-inadvertently-shared-reporter-timeline/story?id=120128447