Four days. That’s how long it took Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to exit a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging service, with Trump administration officials, which he was inexplicably invited to join. During the four days, Goldberg was privy to highly classified discussions and information, which included plans for military airstrikes against the Yemen-based Houthis, a terrorist organization funded by Iran. 

The event is a total embarrassment for the Trump administration. It revealed startling inefficiency and incompetence. However, one important aspect that hasn’t received much attention is why Goldberg waited four days to exit a group chat with Trump administration officials.