‘Signalgate’ cause revealed – Guardian
The ‘Signalgate’ scandal surrounding the leaking of sensitive information on US military action in Yemen to The Atlantic magazine was caused by an improbable sequence of errors involving an Apple iPhone feature, The Guardian has reported, citing a White House investigation.
Last month, Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg published exclusive insights based on discussions among senior officials in an internal group chat on the Signal messaging app, claiming he had accessed it through National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. After a probe by the White House, President Donald Trump chose not to heed calls for Waltz’s dismissal.
On Sunday, The Guardian detailed the investigation, citing three sources familiar with its findings. The origins of the ‘Signalgate’ leak were traced back to an email sent by Goldberg last October to Trump’s presidential campaign, seeking comments on a critical story.
Campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes, who now serves in a similar capacity on the National Security Council, shared parts of Goldberg’s email via text with Waltz, including Goldberg's personal details. Later, Waltz's iPhone prompted him to save Goldberg's number under Hughes’ contacts, which he did. Consequently, an invitation to the chat on military action in Yemen intended for Hughes was accidentally sent to Goldberg instead, investigators uncovered, according to The Guardian’s sources.
Previous media reports claimed that Trump was particularly irate about Waltz having Goldberg’s number stored in his contacts, given the president’s disdain for both The Atlantic and Goldberg due to their negative portrayals during his first term.
The Guardian suggested that Trump ultimately decided to accept Waltz’s apology and publicly support him after the investigation unveiled the “unlikely series of events” behind ‘Signalgate’.
Goldberg’s article on Yemen outlined discussions concerning strikes against Houthi rebels. He claimed that Vice President J.D. Vance spoke dismissively of US allies in Europe, characterizing the military actions as rescuing their maritime trade in the Red Sea, which is being threatened by the armed faction to exert pressure on Israel.
