Jeffrey Goldberg and The Atlantic: A Legacy of Hoaxes from Russia Collusion to the Houthi Intel Smear Against Trump, Musk, and Hegseth

By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Christian Conservative

The American media has long suffered from a credibility crisis, and no figure better exemplifies this erosion of trust than Jeffrey Goldberg, the current editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Goldberg’s career has been marked by a pattern of disseminating misinformation, smears, and politically motivated hoaxes targeting conservatives, Republicans, and those who threaten the progressive establishment. From the debunked Russia collusion narrative to his latest involvement in the Houthi "intel hoax" against Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Pete Hegseth, Goldberg has helped weaponize journalism into a tool of partisan warfare.

The Russia Collusion Hoax

Jeffrey Goldberg helped mainstream the false Russia collusion narrative, which claimed that Donald Trump conspired with the Russian government to win the 2016 election. The Atlantic under Goldberg’s leadership gave significant coverage and credence to the Steele dossier—an opposition research file funded by Hillary Clinton's campaign and later debunked by the Department of Justice's Inspector General and Special Counsel John Durham (DOJ IG Report, 2019; Durham Report, 2023) [1][2].

The result? A years-long investigation that found no evidence of collusion, yet irreparably damaged public trust and wasted millions in taxpayer dollars. The Atlantic never retracted or meaningfully apologized for its role in stoking one of the most divisive hoaxes in modern U.S. history.

The “Suckers and Losers” Military Smear

One of the most infamous examples of Goldberg’s journalistic malfeasance came in 2020 when he published an anonymous-source-based article claiming that President Trump had called fallen U.S. soldiers “suckers” and “losers” [3]. The article, released just before the presidential election, relied entirely on unnamed sources, and was swiftly refuted by more than 20 on-the-record individuals—including former national security adviser John Bolton, who is no friend of Trump [4].

Despite widespread denials from credible witnesses, the narrative was picked up by every major left-wing outlet and used as political ammunition against Trump during a critical election period. This was not journalism—it was election interference under the guise of reporting.

The New Houthi Intel Hoax

Now, in 2025, Goldberg has once again placed himself at the center of a manufactured scandal: The Atlantic’s bizarre and baseless claim that the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels somehow possess intelligence implicating Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Pete Hegseth in illegal arms sales or covert operations in the Middle East [5].

The story, based yet again on “anonymous intelligence sources,” conveniently emerged as Trump continues his campaign and Musk intensifies his efforts to challenge globalist media and tech monopolies. The Atlantic, without providing a single verified document or on-the-record source, claimed that the Houthis had “internal intelligence” implicating these American figures in dealings that allegedly threaten “Middle Eastern stability.”

This reeks of a desperate smear operation designed to conflate America First patriots with Iranian terror groups to distract from the Biden administration’s failures abroad. Given Goldberg’s track record, it’s hardly surprising.

A Pattern of Political Propaganda

Jeffrey Goldberg has turned The Atlantic, once a respected magazine, into a propaganda arm of the Democratic Party and globalist elite. Under his leadership, the publication has pushed:

• The Jussie Smollett hoax [6]

• The Charlottesville “very fine people” lie taken out of context [7]

• COVID misinformation favoring lockdowns while downplaying the Wuhan lab theory [8]

• January 6 exaggerations equating trespassing with terrorism [9]

All of this while suppressing genuine reporting on the Biden family’s foreign dealings and the weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents.

Conclusion: Time to Hold the Media Accountable

Jeffrey Goldberg’s legacy is not one of journalism, but of coordinated political deception. Whether it’s the Russia hoax, the fake military smear, or the latest farce involving the Houthis, Goldberg has repeatedly abused his platform to undermine conservative voices and manipulate public opinion.

It’s time for the American people to hold so-called “journalists” like Goldberg accountable—not just by exposing their lies, but by defunding media outlets that serve as the mouthpiece of the deep state. The Atlantic does not speak for the American people. It speaks for the globalist regime trying to destroy them.

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References

1. DOJ Inspector General Report on Crossfire Hurricane: https://www.justice.gov/storage/120919-examination.pdf

2. Durham Report Summary (2023): https://www.justice.gov/storage/durhamreport.pdf

3. Goldberg, J. (2020). “Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers.’” The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/09/trump-americans-who-died-at-war-are-losers-and-suckers/615997/

4. The Federalist. (2020). “Here Are All The People Who Denied The Atlantic’s Story About Trump Disparaging Troops.” https://thefederalist.com/2020/09/07/here-are-all-the-people-who-denied-the-atlantics-story-about-trump-disparaging-troops/

5. [Insert developing citation for the Houthi hoax once confirmed by further investigation or analysis.]

6. National Review. (2019). “The Jussie Smollett Hoax.” https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/02/jussie-smollett-hoax-media-democrats/

7. RealClearPolitics. (2019). “The Charlottesville Lie.” https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/04/26/the_charlottesville_lie_140232.html

8. Wall Street Journal. (2021). “The Science Suggests a Wuhan Lab Leak.” https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-science-suggests-a-wuhan-lab-leak-11622995194

9. The Federalist. (2021). “The Media’s January 6 Lies.” https://thefederalist.com/2021/07/13/yes-jan-6-was-a-protest-that-got-out-of-hand-not-an-insurrection/