In Washington, a major security breach unfolded involving high-ranking officials from President Donald Trump’s administration. Reportedly, their plans for military actions in Yemen were unwittingly shared with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, via a secure messaging app group chat. This leak was confirmed by the National Security Council, which labeled the situation as authentic.
Initially, President Trump was unaware of the distribution of this sensitive information and, later in conversation, appeared to poke fun at the security mishap. The leaked information reportedly contained intricate operational details of anticipated U.S. military strikes on Iran-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen. These details encompassed target locations, weaponry, and planned attack sequences, which normally remain classified, though it’s unclear if these specific actions were formally classified. The military has been actively targeting the Houthis following attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea since the previous month.
Remarkably, mere hours after the communication of these details to Goldberg on March 15, the U.S. proceeded with airstrikes in Yemen. The National Security Council is currently investigating the surprising inclusion of a journalist’s number in their Signal chat. Notably, participants of this chat included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Tulsi Gabbard, who serves as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence. Goldberg allegedly gained access through a Signal invite from Mike Waltz, Trump’s National Security Adviser.
In the wake of this, Hegseth criticized Goldberg as deceitful, attacking past unfavorable coverage of Trump by The Atlantic, though offering no explanation for using Signal to manage sensitive military dialogue nor the presence of Goldberg in the chat. He emphasized, “Nobody was texting war plans,” choosing not to discuss further during a press briefing in Hawaii.
Addressing the incident, Trump remarked dismissively to NBC News, describing it as a singular, non-critical glitch in his administration’s operation. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that no classified material had been circulated and reiterated President Trump’s confidence in his national security team.
Privately, government officials have turned to Signal for certain communications, recognizing its encryption and inherent security benefits over typical texting services. However, the app remains unclassified and potentially vulnerable. In Trump’s government, the use of Signal aligns with broader efforts to communicate securely, as advised by White House counsel.
Democratic lawmakers expressed serious concerns about the breach, with figures such as Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Jack Reed condemning the incident as a grave error in operational security. Some Republican voices also shared trepidations and committed to investigating the leak through bipartisan efforts.
The legal framework around handling national defense information is stringent, governed by the Espionage Act, which penalizes unauthorized removals of classified information from secure custody. Comparisons have been made with previous investigations, such as Secretary Hillary Clinton’s email use, which ultimately did not lead to charges.
Signal remains a tool for both Trump and prior administrations to quietly manage communications, with its popularity growing amid rumors of international espionage tactics targeting White House systems. Critics, however, pointed accusatory fingers at Hegseth, questioning his qualifications and competence in this latest kerfuffle.
The leak further illuminated internal discussions regarding the military initiative, revealing deliberations about the strategic and economic implications of the timing of the operation against the Houthis, with Vice President Vance considering the broader ramifications. Despite his concerns, Vance expressed willingness to defer to the consensus within the administration.
Amid the flurry of reactions, it was revealed that The Atlantic was also embroiled in a legal conflict with the Trump administration regarding editorial policies, highlighting ongoing tensions between the White House and media entities.