Top Trump Administration Officials Shared Sensitive Military Plans in Private Chat, Including Journalist
Washington - Senior national security officials under President Donald Trump, including his defense secretary, discussed upcoming military strikes in Yemen through a secure messaging app—in a group chat that also included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, according to a report published by the magazine on Monday. The National Security Council later confirmed the text exchange “appears to be authentic.”
Initially, Trump told reporters he was unaware of the breach, responding more than two and a half hours after the story broke. Later, he appeared to joke about the security lapse.
The text chain contained "operational details of upcoming strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, including target information, the weapons the U.S. planned to use, and the sequence of attacks," reported editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.
It remained unclear whether the military operation's specifics were classified, though such details are typically sensitive and closely guarded to ensure servicemember safety and operational security. Since November 2023, when the Houthis began attacking commercial and military ships in the Red Sea, the U.S. has carried out multiple airstrikes against the militant group.
Just two hours after Goldberg obtained the attack details on March 15, the U.S. initiated a series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
National Security Council Probes Unauthorized Addition of Journalist to Signal Chat
The National Security Council (NSC) has launched an investigation into how a journalist was added to a private Signal group chat involving high-ranking officials, according to a statement released by the NSC. The group included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s Director of National Intelligence.
The journalist, Goldberg, received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, who was also part of the chat.
In his first public remarks on the incident, Hegseth criticized Goldberg as “deceitful” and a “discredited so-called journalist,” referencing previous critical coverage of Trump by Goldberg’s publication. However, Hegseth did not explain why Signal was used to discuss sensitive matters or how Goldberg gained access to the chat.
“Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that,” Hegseth told reporters upon arriving in Hawaii on Monday, marking the start of his first Indo-Pacific trip as defense secretary.
Trump downplayed the incident in a brief interview with NBC News’ Garrett Haake on Tuesday, calling it “the only glitch in two months” of his administration and adding that “it turned out not to be a serious one.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that no war plans or classified material were discussed in the thread, stating in a post on X: “No classified material was sent to the thread.”
Leavitt also affirmed Trump’s continued confidence in Waltz and the national security team. Trump echoed this sentiment, telling NBC News that Waltz “has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man.”
Earlier on Monday, Trump claimed ignorance of the incident, telling reporters, “I don’t know anything about it. You’re telling me about it for the first time.” He dismissed The Atlantic, Goldberg’s publication, as “not much of a magazine.”
By early evening, the president dismissed the matter with a joke. He amplified a social media post by Elon Musk that highlighted a satirical article from a conservative news site. The piece bore a biting headline: “4D Chess: Genius Trump Leaks War Plans to ‘The Atlantic’ Where No One Will Ever See Them.”
While government officials have used Signal for internal communications, the app is not classified—meaning it remains vulnerable to hacking. Still, privacy and tech experts note that Signal, an end-to-end encrypted messaging and voice call service, is far more secure than standard texting.
Leavitt stated that the White House counsel’s office had advised Trump’s top officials on the safest and most efficient communication platforms to use.
The backlash was swift
The disclosure of sensitive information came just as Hegseth’s office announced a crackdown on leaks, including the possible use of polygraphs on defense personnel to trace how classified details reached reporters.
Sean Parnell, a spokesman for Heggseth, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on why the defense secretary had shared operational plans on an unsecured app.
Democratic lawmakers swiftly condemned the administration’s handling of highly sensitive intelligence, with top figures demanding immediate investigations and accountability.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the incident “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time” during a floor speech Monday.
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the Senate Armed Services Committee’s ranking Democrat, echoed the outrage, stating, “If true, this story represents one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen.” He warned that American lives were “on the line,” slamming the Trump administration’s “stunning and dangerous” carelessness and vowing to press for answers.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the House Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat, said he was “horrified” by the reports, further amplifying the chorus of Democratic criticism.
Himes stated that if a lower-ranking official had engaged in the alleged conduct, they would likely face clearance revocation and a criminal investigation. “The American people deserve answers,” he said, adding that he intended to pursue those answers at Wednesday’s previously scheduled committee hearing.
Some Republicans also voiced concerns. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told reporters Monday, “We’re very concerned about it and will be looking into it on a bipartisan basis.”
Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said he would discuss with Wicker how the committee plans to “follow up” on the leaked Signal messages. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) emphasized the need for further investigation, stating, “Obviously, we’ve got to run it to the ground and figure out what went on there.”
In contrast, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) struck a notably forgiving tone. “I think it would be a terrible mistake to impose adverse consequences on anyone involved in that call,” he said. “They were trying to do a good job, and the mission was accomplished with precision.”
Strict Laws Govern the Handling of Defense Information
The handling of national defense information is tightly regulated under the long-standing Espionage Act, which includes provisions criminalizing the unauthorized removal of such material from its designated secure location—even if done through gross negligence.
Past Investigations into Mishandling of Classified Information
In 2015 and 2016, the Justice Department investigated whether former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton violated the law by using a private email server to discuss classified matters with aides. The FBI ultimately recommended against charges, and none were filed.
Signal’s Use in the Biden Administration
During the Biden administration, some officials were permitted to install Signal on their government-issued phones but were advised to use the encrypted messaging app sparingly, according to a former national security official from the Democratic administration.
The official, who spoke anonymously to discuss sensitive communication practices, said Signal was primarily used to send internal alerts known as "tippers"—brief notifications prompting recipients to check their secure ("high side") inboxes for classified messages, particularly when away from the office or traveling abroad.
Additionally, officials occasionally relied on Signal to coordinate sensitive meetings or classified calls while outside secure facilities. Its usage increased in the final year of Biden’s term after federal law enforcement warned of hacking attempts by China and Iran, including breaches targeting the White House and Trump administration officials.
The official noted that they were unaware of senior Biden administration figures—such as Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, or National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan—using Signal to discuss sensitive plans, unlike some Trump administration officials.
Signal’s Encryption and Wider Use
Signal’s encryption protocol is open-source, allowing public scrutiny and modification. The same technology underpins Meta’s WhatsApp, another widely used encrypted messaging platform.
Criticism Over Leaked Information
Some of the harshest backlash was directed at a former Fox News weekend host, Pete Hegseth. Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, publicly condemned him on social media, stating: "The most unqualified Secretary of Defense in history is demonstrating his incompetence by literally leaking classified war plans in the group chat."
Leak Exposes Internal Dispute Over Houthi Strikes
In a series of private messages, Vance raised concerns about whether the public would grasp the significance of military strikes that could trigger a "moderate to severe spike in oil prices." He also questioned whether the timing of the operation was a "mistake."
“I’m prepared to back the team’s consensus and keep these reservations private,” Vance stated. “But there’s a compelling case for postponing this by a month—allowing time to explain why it matters, assess the economic climate, and so on.”
Vance further argued that Europe stood to gain far more than the U.S. from an operation targeting the Houthis and safeguarding Red Sea shipping routes.
“If the decision is to proceed, then let’s do it. I just resent having to rescue Europe yet again,” Vance said in an exchange with Hegseth.
“I completely share your disdain for European freeloading. It’s PATHETIC,” Hegseth responded, adding, “But I believe we should move forward.”
William Martin, the vice president’s communications director, later issued a statement minimizing the disagreement, asserting that Vance “fully backs this administration’s foreign policy.”
The leak comes as Leavitt, one of three former Trump officials sued by The Associated Press over alleged First and Fifth Amendment violations, faces legal scrutiny. The AP claims the trio is retaliating over editorial disagreements, while the White House accuses the news agency of disregarding an executive order mandating the use of "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico."
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