Though he disparaged Goldberg's reputation as a Trump critic, Waltz also said he took "full responsibility" for the journalist winding up in the chat.

Mr. Goldberg, who was included on a private text thread discussing war plans, was a longtime national security reporter who became editor of The Atlantic in 2016.

President Donald Trump’s national security team couldn’t have picked a journalist who’s more accomplished—or more hated by the president—to accidentally add to an unsecured group chat about its Middle East war plans.