Washington, D.C. – A stunning breach of protocol has rocked the Trump administration, as top Cabinet officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, reportedly shared sensitive military strike plans targeting Houthi militants in Yemen via an encrypted group chat on Signal—a chat that accidentally included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. The revelations, first reported by The Atlantic, have sparked outrage, disbelief, and calls for accountability among U.S. officials and national security experts.
According to The Atlantic, Waltz initiated the Signal conversation earlier this month with key figures such as Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to coordinate strikes on Houthi rebels threatening Red Sea shipping lanes. The discussion included operational details—such as targets, weapons, and timing—considered highly classified. Unbeknownst to the group, Goldberg had been added to the thread, witnessing the planning unfold in real-time until he removed himself after a post-strike debrief.
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The Trump administration has acknowledged the messages’ authenticity but offered no explanation for why such sensitive national defense matters were discussed outside secure government systems. Hegseth, who allegedly sent “operational details of forthcoming strikes,” denied war plans were texted, telling reporters at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.” He also dismissed Goldberg as “deceitful and highly discredited,” sidestepping questions about the breach.
The fallout was immediate. Senior officials expressed shock to CNN, with some predicting dismissals and others warning of grave national security risks. “They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike,” a former senior intelligence official said. Career national security experts echoed the dismay, noting that using an unclassified app like Signal for such discussions could expose plans to foreign hackers—potentially endangering U.S. troops. “Any other employee would’ve been fired and probably prosecuted,” one official told CNN.
Signal, while encrypted and widely used globally, lacks the security of classified systems like SIPR or JWICS, which senior officials can access even on the move. Experts emphasized that transferring classified data to an unclassified platform, as appears to have happened, violates protocol and possibly laws like the Espionage Act—though an investigation seems unlikely given the officials’ authority.
Inside the administration, reactions ranged from disbelief—“Dear Sweet Baby Jesus,” quipped one former official—to damage control. Trump expressed surprise, downplaying The Atlantic’s credibility, while Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed confidence in Waltz. Yet, sources told CNN the West Wing is reevaluating Signal’s pervasive use, with one official noting, “That may well change.”
On Capitol Hill, responses varied. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) called it a “huge screw-up,” urging an interagency review, while House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) minimized it as an “inadvertent” error. Democrats, like Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), demanded answers, labeling it a “brazen violation” of security laws ahead of scheduled intelligence hearings.
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told CNN, “Somebody needs to get fired,” warning that a different recipient could have tipped off the Houthis, risking American lives. For now, the administration stands by its team, with National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes calling the thread a sign of “deep and thoughtful policy coordination”—despite the glaring lapse that thrust it into the spotlight.
Key Points: Trump Adviser’s Signal Chat Blunder on Yemen Strike Plans
- Incident: National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military strike plans on Houthi militants in Yemen.
- Participants: The chat involved top Trump officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, planning strikes earlier this month.
- Content: Messages contained sensitive operational details—targets, weapons, and timing—likely classified, shared outside secure government systems.
- Reaction: U.S. officials expressed shock and horror; some predict dismissals, while experts warn of national security risks from using an unclassified app like Signal.
- Administration Response: The Trump team acknowledged the messages’ authenticity but offered no explanation. Hegseth denied sharing “war plans,” dismissing Goldberg’s credibility.
- Security Breach: Experts say transferring classified data to Signal violates protocol and possibly laws like the Espionage Act, though an investigation is unlikely due to the officials’ authority.
- Fallout: The West Wing is reassessing Signal’s use; Capitol Hill reactions range from calls for review (Sen. Cornyn) to minimization (Speaker Johnson), with Democrats demanding accountability.
- Risks: Former officials, including Leon Panetta, warn the breach could have tipped off adversaries, endangering troops, and call for firings. Trump downplayed the story, citing disdain for The Atlantic.
