Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the group chat when he received a Signal connection request from someone claiming to be Michael Waltz, the national security adviser. He then found himself part of a discussion revealing sensitive military plans.

The breach posed serious risks, including the potential compromise of military operations and national security, as sensitive information was shared on an unsecured platform, which could be accessed or intercepted by adversaries.

The Trump administration acknowledged that the chat was authentic and described it as a demonstration of policy coordination. However, they downplayed the risks, stating that there were no threats to servicemembers or national security. President Trump denied knowledge of the incident.

Using unsecured apps like Signal for classified information could violate the Espionage Act and the Federal Records Act, as these platforms do not meet government security standards for handling sensitive data.

Lawmakers from both parties have expressed outrage over the breach, with many demanding an investigation. Democrats have been particularly critical, highlighting potential security risks and possible legal violations, while some Republicans have been more defensive.