Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top Trump administration officials inadvertently shared classified war planning information with a journalist through a Signal messaging group.
According to The Daily Caller, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a secure chat where officials discussed and coordinated military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The incident involved several high-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Vice President J.D. Vance. In the chat titled "Houthi PC small group," Hegseth shared detailed operational plans just hours before the actual strikes were carried out on March 15.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Goldberg to the secure Signal chat group where sensitive military information was being discussed.
The journalist observed the conversations in real-time as officials coordinated the attack plans. Hegseth's message contained specific details about targets, weapons, and attack sequencing for the Yemen operation.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the messages. The administration maintains that despite the leak, there were no threats to service members or national security. Hughes emphasized that the messages demonstrated thorough policy coordination among senior officials.
President Donald Trump, when asked about the incident, expressed unfamiliarity with the situation. He stated he was hearing about it for the first time during an infrastructure investment announcement on Monday.
Vice President J.D. Vance emerged as a voice of caution during the planning discussions. He raised concerns about the timing of the operation and its potential impact on public opinion and the economy. His office later issued a statement affirming his complete alignment with the administration's foreign policy decisions.
The group chat showed various cabinet members weighing in on the proposed military action. After the successful execution of the strikes, officials celebrated in the chat through messages and emojis. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles offered congratulations to the military teams involved.
The administration's response focused on damage control while defending the operation's success. Officials emphasized that the inadvertent sharing of information did not compromise the mission's effectiveness or endanger military personnel.
The White House launched an investigation into how the unauthorized number was added to the secure communication channel. Despite the sensitive nature of the leaked information, administration officials maintained that the successful execution of the Houthi operation demonstrated their operational security remained intact.
The military strike against Houthi targets proceeded as planned, with explosions reported in Sanaa, Yemen's capital city, around the scheduled time. Goldberg's presence in the chat went unnoticed until he left the group after the operation's completion, effectively alerting officials to the security breach.
The incident highlighted the sophisticated coordination of U.S. military operations and the potential vulnerabilities in secure communication channels that top government officials use. While the White House maintains that no lasting damage occurred, the event raised questions about information security protocols within the administration's highest levels.
