Signalgate Scandal Sends Confusing Signals

March 31st, 2025

Elisa Ma

While National Security Advisor Michael Waltz's “👊🇺🇸🔥” emoji trio is now a gesture of agreement beyond party lines, the “Signalgate” debacle brings light to national security and the extent to which an administration will protect those in its party. The Signal app is allowed on White-house issued devices, but sharing national security details over a commercial app is not only unsecure, but could be deemed an act of espionage.

What Happened

On March 24th, 2025, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg published an article stating that he was added to a Signal group chat where military plans in Yemen were discussed. Goldberg initially believed that the accounts with key public names like “Michael Waltz,” “JD Vance,” and “Pete Hegseth” were impersonators, but earlier messages aligned with real-life consequences that were unfolding.

On March 25th, key US intelligence officials like Michael Waltz, John Ratcliffe, and Tulsi Gabbard were questioned by legislators for both parties in the Senate, largely denying that classified information had been sent in the group chat. Michael Waltz has claimed responsibility for making the chat and adding Goldberg.

On March 26th, Goldberg revealed the full messages he had seen in the chat. Some messages show a distaste to European countries for a reliance on the US, prompting officials of nations like the UK, France, and Italy to reconsider their intelligence corporations. In light of more evidence, Tulsi Gabbard now recognizes the sensitive information shared, a backtracking from previous statements.

Trump and His Cabinet’s Reactions

President Donald Trump has expressed a series of reactions. Initially, Trump downplayed the leak as a not serious glitch. Then, Trump declared Golderberg’s piece as a “witch hunt”. Before finally, Trump, Waltz, Hegseth are settling on the narrative to discredit Goldberg as a journalist. Hegseth has called Goldberg “deceitful and highly discredited” and Waltz is claiming to have never met Goldberg, but Goldberg details that is being untrue. Despite President Trump’s defenses, other Trump allies are asking for Michael Waltz to be fired. No resignations have taken place yet.

Conclusion

While this Signal chat has given the American public insight into some of our highest officials’ texting patterns, it also acts as a wake up call to all government employees to ensure sensitive communications are protected. Moreover, domestic and international relationships of loyalty and trust are being called into question.