"Signalgate" is a Masterclass in the application of Useful Idiots
A theory
“Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.”
― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
The phrase “Useful Idiots”, often attributed to Vladimir Lenin, described those in the Western world who voiced sympathy and support for the Soviet Union in the 20th century. A famous example would be Walter Duranty, the 1930s New York Times reporter that published false and misleading news stories about Stalin’s Russia, making it appear as a paradise society filled with happy citizens.
Instead, due to Communist policies and practice, the country was wracked with mass starvation, indiscriminate state killings, and other horrors that were used to control the people of Russia. Duranty went as far as stating, “Conditions are bad, but there is no famine, -But – to put it brutally – you can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.” Mr. Duranty would go on to win a Pulitzer in 1932 for this deceptive publishing, a prize that the Pulitzer board has refused to withdraw to this day.
This technique of employing a Useful Idiot for messaging need not always involve covering up mass famines and brutal authoritarian regimes such as the former USSR.
Sometimes the editor of a far-left publication can help spread the communication of foreign policy goals.
Last week, The Atlantic’s editor Jeffrey Goldberg discovered that he had somehow been added to a group chat (GC) on Signal titled “Houthi PC small group” by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. This GC appeared to have top cabinet members of the Trump administration on its roster. Goldberg appears shocked to be included in this GC, especially as a journalist intensely critical of the current administration. His last article was titled, Trump: ‘I Need the Kind of Generals That Hitler Had’, so he probably wondered why he was added. At first, he doubts the veracity that the GC he’s been added to is genuine. He writes:
After reading this chain, I recognized that this conversation possessed a high degree of verisimilitude. The texts, in their word choice and arguments, sounded as if they were written by the people who purportedly sent them, or by a particularly adept AI text generator. I was still concerned that this could be a disinformation operation, or a simulation of some sort. And I remained mystified that no one in the group seemed to have noticed my presence. But if it was a hoax, the quality of mimicry and the level of foreign-policy insight were impressive.
Suffice to say, Mr. Goldberg stayed in the GC, only leaving it this past Sunday, March 23rd. He then wasted no time furiously banging out a 3500 word essay on his adventures in GC land, replete with accompanying screenshots of the chat. How he had time to do this between scheduling cable news interviews is a testament to this true American patriot.
However, is that really the entire narrative? That a Progressive-Liberal journalist just happened to be accidentally added to a high-level chat group discussing policy positions and goals? One that includes some of the most powerful figures in the current administration? Which led to the inevitable story being leaked?
Occam's razor
I lean towards a theory of "Signalgate" being intentional1, starting with some of the members the chat. You have Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller. These are all heavy-hitters in the admin and most former military with the training and experience around handling sensitive information. The Signal messaging app was not some new piece of technology handed out to them as if they were natives of the New World with a Musket.
Pretending they are clueless about operational security doesn’t pass the common sense test.
These folks regularly make the rounds on the cable news circuit advancing the policies of the administration. If the interview goes well and has catchy sound bites, maybe a few Op-Eds will hit the internet.
In the Signal GC, specific policies regarding issues with Europe, Red Sea trade defense, and the inability of the EU to counter these threats are laid out.
Thanks to The Atlantic, these positions have European policymakers and leaders full attention.
"Let us text out in multiple paragraphs our foreign policy objectives for the region. Also, make sure to mention specific regional players and our goals for each."
Another sign that this was a calculated move was the fact that these messages sent in the group chat are long. It was odd how fully-formed the texts were crafted, as if bullet points on the ideas and policy goals for the administration. This kind of detailed discussion is usually reserved for foreign policy strategy meetings, not GC comms. The stark declaration that Europe cannot defend global shipping through these waters is sobering news to the average Euro not paying attention.
With The Atlantic publishing the chat, the impact of this “accidental” leak has the debate for these geopolitical topics on the front page of every mainstream media source in the US and across Europe. NPR, CNN, NYT, WaPo, UK Guardian, and the rest of global news is covering these positions. Yes, there are plenty of media complaints as to Goldberg being on the Signal group, but the low-key response from the White House suggests that this was done with purpose.
Some recent articles directly express the concerns brought up from the GC on the wavering of European leadership, with the chief of NATO discussing how the EU must find a compromise with the US.
NATO chief appeals for unity as Europe builds its armies and the US eyes security threats elsewhere
The Signal chat fiasco sends an alarming message about Trump officials’ stance toward Europe.
This leak put it front and center the geopolitical goals of the administration, making them impossible to ignore. The Atlantic and Mr. Goldberg could go down as one of the greatest propagandist for the Trump 2.0 term.
If this was a genuine blunder adding a Useful Idiot to the Signal chat, the message outcome is a win that furthers US foreign policy aims with Europe.
While I do support the Trump administration, I am not a cultist. I am not, nor ever was a Q-Anon type or a trust the plan guy. Yes this feels intentional. Goldberg might go down as one of the biggest unwittingly propagandist for the administration. Every Euro policymaker is paying attention now. Especially with the NATO summit in June fast approaching.
The trouble with 4D chess arguments is that there's no falsifiability criteria. Literally anything can be explained to the satisfaction of anyone's preexisting bias, in the same way as an infinity of functions can fit any finite set of points. The best explanation is usually incompetence as someone once put more eloquently.
I felt the same way upon hearing of the “leak.” The other alternative I considered is the deep state natsec community are trying to embarrass Trump and his appointees.