Waltz admits adding journalist to Yemen bombing chat

The US national security adviser says he inadvertently included a reporter in confidential discussions

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has taken “full responsibility” for a leaked Signal group chat where senior White House officials discussed planned military strikes in Yemen, which accidentally included a journalist.

On Monday, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, published a story revealing alleged discussions among senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration about military strategies targeting Houthi rebels.

“I take full responsibility. I built the group,” Waltz said during an interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News on Tuesday.

“It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”

In the article, Goldberg says he gained access to a Signal group chat from a user identified as “Mike Waltz.” The chat, titled “Houthi PC small group,” reportedly included Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and other cabinet officials.

In the interview, Waltz couldn’t explain how Goldberg ended up in the chat, claiming that an unnamed contact – who was meant to be included – was likely mistaken for Goldberg.

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“We’ve got the best technical minds looking at how this happened,” Waltz stated, noting that Goldberg’s number had not been on his phone.

“I can tell you for 100% I don’t know this guy,” Waltz said, adding that he had reached out to Elon Musk for help in figuring out what went wrong.

When pressed by host Laura Ingraham about how the number was added, Waltz replied, “Well, if you have somebody else’s contact, then somehow it… gets sucked in. It gets sucked in.”

Trump has downplayed the leak calling it a “glitch” that had “no impact at all” on the military operation as no classified information was disclosed.

When asked about the story at the White House on Monday, the US president appeared unfazed and took a swipe at The Atlantic over its involvement.

“I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of the Atlantic,” Trump told reporters. “To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business. I think it’s not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it.”

READ MORE: Trump comments on Waltz ‘glitch’

Trump defended Waltz in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday, saying the national security adviser would not be dismissed over the incident.

“He’s not getting fired,” Trump told Fox, calling the security breach a “mistake” and insisting there was “nothing important” in the Signal chat.