The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg found himself unexpectedly privy to high-level military discussions when he was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat with top defense and national security officials.
According to The Hill, the journalist discovered he was accidentally included in a text message chain where officials discussed detailed plans for strikes against Houthi rebels, which were later carried out with the same specifications outlined in the communications.
President Trump, when questioned about the incident at a White House event with Louisiana officials, expressed unfamiliarity with the situation and dismissed The Atlantic's credibility. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes later confirmed the authenticity of the message chain, acknowledging that an inadvertent number had been added to the communications.
The Signal group chat, titled "Houthi PC small group," was created on March 11 and included high-ranking officials such as National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Goldberg provided screenshots showing detailed discussions about weapons, targets, and timing of the attacks planned for March 15.
The conversation revealed internal disagreements about the military action. Vice President Vance expressed concerns about the operation's alignment with the administration's European policy, stating through his account labeled "JD Vance":
I think we are making a mistake. I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the president's confidence in his national security team, particularly highlighting National Security Advisor Mike Waltz's leadership. The administration maintains that the Houthi operations have been successful despite the security breach.
The incident has sparked discussions about the security protocols surrounding high-level military communications. After the attacks were executed, the group chat showed various officials congratulating Hegseth's team on the operation's success, with CIA Director Ratcliffe describing it as "a good start."
Defense Secretary Hegseth shared operational details approximately two hours before the attacks commenced, demonstrating the sensitive nature of the information inadvertently exposed to the journalist. The National Security Council's confirmation of the breach has prompted a review of communication procedures.
Trump's response to the situation remained dismissive, focusing instead on criticizing The Atlantic's business status. He emphasized the effectiveness of the attacks while maintaining his lack of knowledge about the communication breach.
Goldberg's report included his attempts to verify the authenticity of the thread by contacting various officials mentioned in the group chat. The incident has highlighted potential vulnerabilities in secure communication channels used by top government officials for sensitive military operations.
The White House continues to project confidence in its national security team despite the breach. The successful execution of the Houthi strikes, according to administration officials, demonstrates that national security was not compromised by the accidental inclusion of the journalist in the communications.
Defense and national security officials were caught in an unprecedented situation when The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to their secure Signal group chat discussing military operations against Houthi rebels. The incident occurred on March 11, revealing sensitive details about weapons, targets, and timing of attacks that were subsequently carried out on March 15.
The White House maintains that despite this security breach, the operation was successful and did not compromise national security. The National Security Council has initiated a review of communication procedures while President Trump continues to express his support for the military actions taken against the Houthis.
