In a major national security blunder, senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration mistakenly included The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a secure group chat discussing classified military strike plans targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The revelation has triggered widespread concern over operational security and the safeguarding of sensitive communications within the highest levels of government.
The mistake occurs when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inadvertently adds Goldberg’s phone number to a Signal chat titled “Houthi PC small group,” which was intended for top-tier national security officials only. Among those on the thread were National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Goldberg, initially puzzled by the messages, quickly realizes he has been added to a real-time operational planning discussion just hours ahead of the actual strikes.
At 11:44 a.m., Goldberg receives detailed messages regarding the upcoming attack, including specifics on the weapon systems, timing, and regional impact zones. Within two hours, U.S. forces carry out precision strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Goldberg later confirms that the information matches what unfolded publicly, validating the authenticity of the breach.
National Security Council Spokesperson Brian Hughes confirms that the message thread “appears to be authentic,” and says the White House is reviewing the incident to determine how the error occurred. “While this was clearly an unfortunate mistake,” Hughes adds, “there is no indication that operational success or national security were compromised.”
Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle express alarm at the mistake. Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner condemns the breach, warning it could have endangered military personnel and diplomatic relations. Several lawmakers call for immediate reviews of communication protocols among cabinet officials and National Security Council staff.
The use of Signal, a third-party encrypted messaging platform, for classified or pre-operational discussions raises red flags among intelligence and defense experts. While Signal is widely regarded as secure for personal communications, it is not approved for top-secret or classified government discussions.
This is not the first time a Trump administration has faced scrutiny for its handling of sensitive information. During his first term, President Trump came under fire for reportedly sharing classified intelligence with Russian officials in the Oval Office. The recurrence of security lapses has reignited debates over internal controls and whether stricter measures are needed to ensure national secrets are safeguarded.
So far, no resignations or disciplinary actions have been announced in connection to the mishap, but sources close to the National Security Council say an internal review is already underway. Meanwhile, Goldberg has declined to publish the full contents of the messages, citing journalistic responsibility, though he confirms the chain involved specific tactical details.
The incident is yet another complication for the Trump administration, which continues to face judicial, legislative, and foreign policy challenges in the early months of its second term.
Sources:
- https://nypost.com/2025/03/24/us-news/trump-national-security-team-messaged-plans-for-yemen-strikes-to-atlantic-editor-in-chief
- https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151
- https://www.axios.com/2025/03/24/atlantic-yemen-signal-hegseth-jeffrey-goldberg
- https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-officials-accidentally-shared-yemen-war-plans-group/story?id=120106043
- https://youtu.be/H1eFV_5XTWk
