Atlantic Editor Accidentally Added to Trump Officials’ Military Plan Group Chat

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was unexpectedly included in a Signal group chat used by senior Trump administration officials to discuss planned military strikes against Houthi terrorists in Yemen.

According to Goldberg’s report, the group chat invitation came from National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly shared classified details about the planned attacks, including target locations, weapons to be used, and timing—two hours before the strikes commenced on March 15.

Other participants in the chat included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

Goldberg described his shock at being added to the group, recounting that Waltz first connected with him on Signal on March 11, followed by an invitation to a chat labeled “Houthi PC small group” on March 13. Within the chat, high-ranking officials discussed details of the strikes, apparently unaware of Goldberg’s accidental inclusion.

“I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans,” Goldberg wrote. He also found it hard to comprehend that “the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include him in the discussions with senior U.S. officials.”

Goldberg became convinced of the chat’s authenticity when a user, purportedly Hegseth, posted a message stating that the first explosions in Yemen would occur in two hours, at 1:45 p.m.—a prediction that later proved accurate.

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes later confirmed the authenticity of the Signal group chat. “This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” Hughes stated. He added, “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 troops or national security.”

Goldberg detailed how the administration reached its decision to launch the strikes, beginning with Waltz’s March 13 message instructing officials to provide their best points of contact for coordination over the next 72 hours.

“Team – establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours,” Waltz reportedly wrote.

On March 14, Waltz messaged the group at 8:05 a.m., stating, “You should have a statement of conclusions with taskings per the Presidents [sic] guidance this morning in your high side inboxes.” The term “high side” typically refers to classified computer networks. He also noted that the State and Defense departments had created recommended notification lists for regional allies, with the Joint Chiefs of Staff set to send detailed timelines to international partners.

Vice President Vance, who was traveling to Michigan at the time, voiced his reservations about the strikes. “I think we are making a mistake,” he wrote, pointing out that only 3% of U.S. trade passes through the Suez Canal compared to 40% of Europe’s trade.

“There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message,” Vance added. He further warned, “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” suggesting the attacks could lead to rising oil prices.

The following day, on March 15, at 11:44 a.m., Hegseth sent a message to the group detailing the operational plans for the Yemen strikes. Due to concerns over U.S. military and intelligence safety, Goldberg refrained from disclosing the specifics of Hegseth’s post.

“What I will say, in order to illustrate the shocking recklessness of this Signal conversation, is that the Hegseth post contained operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including information about targets, weapons the U.S. would be deploying, and attack sequencing,” Goldberg wrote.

Vance was the only participant who responded directly to Hegseth’s message, writing, “I will say a prayer for victory.”

News of the security lapse sparked immediate criticism from political figures and analysts.

Senate Armed Services Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) denounced the breach, calling it “one of the most egregious failures of operational security and common sense I have ever seen.”

“Military operations need to be handled with utmost discretion, using approved, secure lines of communication, because American lives are on the line,” Reed said in a statement. “The carelessness shown by President Trump’s cabinet is stunning and dangerous. I will be seeking answers from the Administration immediately.”