The Journo in the ‘War Chat Scandal’: Who Is Jeffrey Goldberg?

A Journalist Too Close to the Action

Every reporter wants to be close to the story. But this time, one got a little too close. The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, found himself in the middle of a national security nightmare. Who is Jeffrey Goldberg? He was added—apparently by accident—to a secret chat among U.S. government officials. The topic? War plans. Real ones. In real time.

Two hours before U.S. airstrikes hit Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15, Goldberg got an invitation. The sender was none other than Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The platform? Signal, a private messenger app.

War Secrets Shared in a Signal Chat

The chat wasn’t just casual. High-level figures were inside. Vice President JD Vance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard. CIA director John Ratcliffe. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

They were discussing airstrike plans—down to the minute. Goldberg first thought it was a joke. But when the bombs hit Sanaa exactly as described, he knew it was real.

Now, the Trump team faces a storm of criticism. The use of a commercial app for military communication has triggered outrage.

Goldberg Becomes the Hottest Name in Journalism

Since the incident, Goldberg has become the most talked-about journalist in Washington. Some are comparing his moment to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during Watergate.

His editorial office told Bild he’s “completely booked.” Everyone wants to hear from him.

From Brooklyn to the War Rooms

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Goldberg built his career reporting on foreign affairs. He’s known for his sharp reporting from the Middle East and for interviewing former President Barack Obama five times.

He became editor of The Atlantic in 2016. Under his leadership, the magazine won its first Pulitzer Prize.

Before that, he lived in Israel after studying in Pennsylvania. He served in the Israeli Defense Forces and worked as a prison guard during the first Intifada. He also spent time studying in Berlin at the American Academy.

A Complex Voice on the Middle East

In the U.S., Goldberg quickly gained fame as one of the most influential voices on Israeli affairs. That didn’t come without backlash.

He was called too liberal. Then labeled a Zionist. Some even claimed he was too critical of Israel.

In 2010, he wrote a report on Israel’s possible strike plans against Iran. The article got so much attention, even Fidel Castro invited him to Cuba. Goldberg traveled there and published a series of in-depth interviews from the island.

He also wrote the book Prisoners: A Muslim and a Jew Across the Middle East Divide in 2006.

Enemy of Trump from the Start

Goldberg and Trump have never been on good terms. In 2016, he pushed The Atlantic to endorse Hillary Clinton. That was only the third endorsement in the magazine’s 160-year history.

In 2020, Goldberg dropped a bombshell article. He quoted Trump calling fallen World War II soldiers “losers” and “suckers.” Trump, according to Goldberg’s sources, skipped a cemetery visit in France because he thought it was full of “losers.”

Trump was furious. He called the article fake and labeled The Atlantic a “dying magazine.” But for Joe Biden, the piece was political gold.

Another Blow Just Before Election Day

Goldberg wasn’t done. Just two weeks before the 2024 election, he published another damaging report. In it, Trump was quoted saying, “I need generals like the ones Hitler had.”

The report claimed Trump made the comment during a meeting. It caused another political firestorm.

Then came March 15. As Trump watched the Yemen airstrike from his golf club, dressed casually, he had no idea. No idea that a fierce critic like Goldberg had been looped into a chat about military strategy.

Who is Jeffrey Goldberg? Final Twist in a Strange Tale

So, who is Jeffrey Goldberg? He’s not just a journalist. He’s a former soldier. A bestselling author. A foreign policy expert. And now, the unexpected star of the biggest security scandal of the year.

His reputation as a sharp, relentless reporter made him powerful. But it was one accidental message that pushed him into the center of the storm.

The war chat scandal has thrown the Trump team into chaos. And the man at the heart of it all is a journalist they never meant to include.