The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief accidentally received classified military communications when Trump administration officials mistakenly added him to a private Signal chat discussing strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump denied knowledge of the incident, calling The Atlantic “a magazine that’s going out of business” while emphasizing the success of the Houthi operation.
- National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the message chain but maintained there were “no threats to troops or national security”.
- The Signal chat included high-ranking officials like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance discussing operational details.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence” and demanded an investigation.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the incident as an administrative error, stating no disciplinary action would be taken against involved officials.
Accidental Security Breach Revealed
A significant security incident has emerged from President Trump’s administration after The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to a private Signal chat containing discussions about military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat reportedly included high-ranking Trump administration officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. According to reports, the officials shared operational details about the Yemen strikes and exchanged congratulatory messages following the attack.
When questioned about the incident, President Trump claimed no knowledge of the situation. “I don’t know anything about it, I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me it’s a magazine that’s going out of business … but I know nothing about it,” Trump said, adding, “Well it couldn’t have been very effective because the attack was very effective … I don’t know anything about it, you’re telling me about it for the first time.”
Jeffrey Goldberg on Trump not knowing about the Signal group chat: "I alerted the White House shortly after 9 in the morning." pic.twitter.com/5QK1HqNsk8
— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) March 25, 2025
Administration Response and Damage Control
The National Security Council, through spokesperson Brian Hughes, confirmed the authenticity of the message thread while attempting to minimize concerns. “At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to our servicemembers or our national security,” Hughes declared.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disputed the characterization of the chat’s contents, “I’ve heard how it was characterized. Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that,” Hegseth stated sternly. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the incident when asked if there would be disciplinary action for National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Hegseth, responding simply, “no, no of course not.”
Democratic Reaction and Calls for Investigation
Democrats have expressed outrage over the incident, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time.” Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reacted with disbelief, “You have got to be kidding me” expressed Clinton. Democratic leaders, including Senator Jack Reed and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have called for formal investigations into what they consider a severe security failure.
The White House has maintained support for the officials involved. “As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz,” stated White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. The incident occurred in relation to the March 15 military strikes against Houthi forces, which Trump ordered in response to attacks on American warships.
Security Implications and Aftermath
The Pentagon and State Department have directed inquiries to the National Security Council and White House, indicating a centralized response strategy to the situation. Goldberg reportedly chose not to quote specific operational details shared in the chat due to potential security risks, though The Atlantic published information about the inadvertent inclusion in the group. Speaker Johnson emphasized that while a mistake occurred, the administration is addressing the issue and will ensure similar incidents don’t happen again.
The core of the controversy centers on whether sensitive military information was improperly shared and the potential security implications of having discussions about active military operations on an unauthorized platform with an unintended recipient. While Trump administration officials maintain the incident posed no threat to national security, Democrats continue to push for accountability and a thorough review of communication protocols within the administration’s national security apparatus.
Sources:
Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter appears ‘authentic’: Official
Speaker Johnson: Waltz, Hegseth shouldn’t be disciplined over war plans Signal chat
