Trump Officials Leak Yemen Attack Plans via Signal Chat

The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that a journalist from The Atlantic was inadvertently included in a private group chat on the messaging app Signal, where top government officials were discussing upcoming military actions against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, detailed this extraordinary revelation in an article, stating that he discovered he had been added to a conversation involving high-ranking officials discussing military operations. According to Goldberg, he was alerted to the U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen approximately two hours before they began on March 15. He revealed that Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, had shared details of the planned attack with him via text at 11:44 a.m.

Goldberg initially hesitated to believe that the invitation he received from an account named “Michael Waltz” was genuine, as Waltz was Trump’s national security adviser. However, upon joining the group, he found himself among 18 government officials, including individuals who appeared to be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Hegseth.

Describing the incident as an unprecedented security lapse, Goldberg quickly alerted the White House and removed himself from the conversation. The Trump administration later confirmed the authenticity of the leaked conversation, with the National Security Council stating that they were investigating how Goldberg’s number was mistakenly added. The council also emphasized that the chat demonstrated the administration’s high-level policy coordination.

During a White House event in Louisiana, Trump dismissed the issue, stating that he had no knowledge of it and downplaying The Atlantic as an unreliable publication. When questioned about the security breach, he deflected, arguing that the military strike had been successful.

Meanwhile, critics are calling for an investigation, with Democratic Senator Chris Coons urging Congress to examine whether officials violated national security protocols by discussing classified war plans through non-secure communication channels. Coons warned that such a breach could have endangered American military personnel.

The Context of the Attack

The U.S. airstrikes on March 15 followed Trump’s announcement on social media that he had authorized decisive military action against the Houthis. These rebels have long been targets of U.S. military operations, including under President Joe Biden. Since October 2023, the Houthis have launched attacks on Israeli and commercial vessels in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s war in Gaza.

Goldberg’s access to the private Signal chat provided rare insight into the internal discussions that shaped this military decision. Within the conversation, Vice President Vance questioned whether the operation primarily benefited European trade rather than U.S. interests. He proposed delaying the attack to gauge public reaction and economic implications. However, Defense Secretary Hegseth opposed postponement, arguing that it would not change the overall strategy and could lead to unwanted leaks.

A participant identified as “SM,” whom Goldberg speculated to be Trump’s homeland security adviser Stephen Miller, emphasized that while the president had given a green light for the attack, the U.S. should seek economic benefits from allies in return.

Following the airstrikes, Goldberg observed celebratory messages in the chat, including American flag emojis, fire symbols, and flexed biceps, signaling satisfaction with the operation.

Security and Legal Concerns

Goldberg raised serious concerns about the security risks of discussing sensitive military operations on an encrypted app like Signal. While national security officials commonly use the app for logistical coordination, he noted that it is not typically used for detailed war planning. The possibility of phones being lost or stolen posed a severe national security risk.

Additionally, he questioned whether the officials violated public records laws, as the chat messages were set to auto-delete. In the U.S., government communications about official actions are legally required to be preserved.

By including Goldberg in the chat, Waltz may have exposed classified military plans to an unauthorized individual, constituting an unauthorized leak. “This meets the textbook definition of a security breach,” Goldberg wrote.

As scrutiny over the incident intensifies, calls for accountability continue to grow, with demands for a full investigation into how high-level officials came to discuss sensitive war plans in an unsecured forum.