President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has resigned following a major scandal in which a journalist was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat discussing US air strikes on Yemen’s Houthi targets. The incident, which exposed sensitive military plans, has raised serious questions about the Trump administration’s handling of national security.
The Signal Chat Leak Scandal
In March 2025, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was accidentally added to a Signal group chat named “Houthi PC small group” by an account linked to Mike Waltz. The chat, which included top officials like Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, discussed operational details of US air strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen, including targets, weapons, and timing, hours before the March 15 strikes. Goldberg’s presence went unnoticed until he removed himself, triggering a notification to Waltz. Signal chat leak became a national security flashpoint.
[](https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/24/politics/yemen-strikes-journalist-cabinet-signal-chat/index.html)Waltz took “full responsibility” for the “embarrassing” breach, admitting he created the chat but claiming a staffer’s error added Goldberg’s number, mistaking it for another contact. However, he could not explain how the mix-up occurred, fueling criticism from lawmakers like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called it “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence” in recent history.
[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/25/mike-waltz-yemen-plans-breach-signal-group)[](https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/mike-waltz-to-be-forced-out-over-war-plan-scandal-trump-to-take-final-call-as-jeffrey-goldberg-mocks-security-advisor-101742899438409.html)
Resignation and Political Fallout
On May 1, 2025, US media outlets, including CBS News and Fox News, reported that Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, were stepping down. The White House has not yet commented, but Trump is expected to address the resignations soon. Initially, Trump defended Waltz, calling him a “good man” and downplaying the incident as a “glitch” with “no impact” on the Yemen strikes, which he deemed successful. However, internal White House deliberations revealed Trump’s frustration with the embarrassing coverage and suspicions about Waltz having Goldberg’s number saved.
[](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-stands-national-security-adviser-leaked-military-plans-saying-mi-rcna197944)[](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/26/trump-leak-mike-waltz-atlantic-00249106)Democrats, including Senator Mark Warner, and some Republicans, like Representative Don Bacon, demanded accountability, with calls for Waltz’s resignation or firing. Critics argued the use of Signal—a non-government app not approved for classified information—violated Pentagon regulations and risked national security. A lawsuit by American Oversight alleges violations of the Federal Records Act, further complicating the fallout. Mike Waltz resignation has intensified scrutiny of the administration.
[](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg12ewv7xyo)[](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/waltz-national-security-adviser-yemen-group-chat-b2721382.html)The Pentagon: A Symbol of US Security
The scandal unfolds against the backdrop of the Pentagon, completed in 1943 as the nerve center of US military operations. Its five-sided design, symbolizing the military’s branches, was a practical solution to a constrained site during World War II. As the world’s largest office building at the time, the Pentagon embodies US defense priorities, making breaches like the Signal chat leak particularly jarring in its shadow.
Implications for Trump’s Administration
The resignations of Waltz and Wong mark an early setback for Trump’s second term, raising questions about the administration’s communication protocols. While Trump publicly supported Waltz, private discussions showed he weighed firing him to avoid media pressure, though he was reluctant to act early in his term. Posts on X reflected mixed sentiments, with some calling the leak a deliberate act and others praising Waltz’s military record as a former Green Beret. Trump administration faces ongoing challenges in managing such crises.
[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/29/us/politics/trump-signal-michael-waltz.html)The incident has prompted the White House to review Signal’s use, with Trump indicating a shift away from the app despite its widespread use in government. As investigations into the breach continue, the resignations signal a push for accountability, though the administration’s narrative—that no classified information was shared—remains contested. Yemen air strikes will likely remain a point of contention.
[](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signal-mike-waltz-houthi/)