In a recent development, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg has called out Mike Waltz for allegedly fabricating conversations between them. Goldberg dismissed Waltz’s assertion that his phone number mysteriously ended up in the national security adviser’s device before being added to a Signal group chat regarding Yemen airstrikes. Goldberg, the editor in chief of The Atlantic magazine, made it clear that phone numbers do not simply transfer between devices as portrayed in movies like “The Matrix.” During an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Goldberg stated, “My phone number was in his phone because it is saved in his contacts. There is no mysterious occurrence here.”
Goldberg refuted Waltz’s claim that they had never met or spoken in the past, pointing out a photo of them together at a 2021 event. He expressed disbelief at Waltz’s denial, stating, “There is no subterfuge here. My number was in his phone, and he mistakenly added me to the group chat. That’s the simple truth.”
While Goldberg did not provide details about his previous interactions with Waltz, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes contradicted Goldberg’s account, asserting that Waltz has no recollection of encountering Goldberg. Hughes emphasized, “Goldberg has a track record of inaccurate reporting and unwarranted attacks on the President and his administration. I trust the word of a decorated Green Beret and combat veteran like Mike Waltz over Jeffrey Goldberg any day.”
The controversy stemmed from Goldberg being invited by Waltz to join a Signal chat discussing Yemen airstrikes, during which Trump administration officials prepared for military actions against Iran-backed Houthi insurgents. Despite the conflicting narratives, Trump and his associates have stood by Waltz, disputing Goldberg’s past reporting and opinions. This incident has further deepened the existing tensions between the two parties.
The staff decided to cancel the helicopter flight due to poor weather conditions, but Goldberg did not revise his account.
