The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief was mistakenly added to a Trump administration Signal chat discussing military plans against Yemen’s Houthis, sparking investigation demands and raising serious national security concerns.
Quick Takes
- President Trump stated he knew nothing about The Atlantic’s report claiming their editor was accidentally added to a sensitive military Signal chat.
- The chat allegedly included high-ranking officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, VP JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussing Yemen operations.
- The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the message chain but maintained it posed no threat to troops or national security.
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for an investigation, labeling it “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence.”
- House Speaker Mike Johnson downplayed the incident as a mistake with an “inadvertent number” and expressed confidence in the officials involved.
Alleged Security Breach Revealed
A report from The Atlantic alleges that top Trump administration officials accidentally added the magazine’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat containing sensitive military strategy discussions. The chat reportedly included detailed planning for strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, with participation from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Goldberg initially thought the inclusion was a hoax but later concluded it represented a significant security breach after observing detailed operational discussions.
The National Security Council has confirmed the authenticity of the message thread. Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the council, stated they are “reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.” Despite the apparent breach, Hughes maintained that the conversation demonstrated “deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials” and insisted the successful Houthi operation proved there were “no threats to our servicemembers or our national security.” The Pentagon and State Department have directed inquiries to the National Security Council and White House.
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
Trump and Administration Response
When questioned about the report, President Trump claimed he was unaware 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. He further downplayed any potential impact on military operations, saying, “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.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth disputed the characterization of the messages, suggesting that Goldberg was being deceitful in his account. House Speaker Mike Johnson minimized the situation, acknowledging it as a mistake but expressing confidence in the administration’s handling of it. When asked if National Security Advisor Mike Waltz or Secretary Hegseth would face disciplinary action, Johnson responded, “no, no of course not.” The White House has maintained full confidence in the officials involved in the incident.
Political Fallout and Calls for Investigation
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for an immediate investigation, describing the incident as “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time.” Other Democratic leaders have joined in expressing concern, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responding to the news with disbelief, “You have got to be kidding me,” remarked Clinton. Democratic lawmakers have characterized the incident as reckless and dangerous, with some calling for accountability measures.
Despite the controversy, Republican leadership has emphasized the successful outcome of the military operations against the Houthis. On March 15, Trump ordered strikes against Houthi targets in response to attacks on American warships, criticizing the previous administration’s handling of the situation. Speaker Johnson highlighted the mission’s effectiveness and praised the top-level officials involved while acknowledging the need to prevent similar incidents in the future. The administration maintains the error did not compromise national security.
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
