**Trump Administration Unintentionally Exposes Military Plans to Journalist via Signal Chat**
Last week, the Trump administration inadvertently disclosed information regarding a military operation intended for Yemen to *The Atlantic* editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg. This event underscores a disturbing breach in security, making it alarmingly simple for sensitive U.S. military data to end up in unexpected hands.
### **Journalist Included in Government Signal Chat**
On Monday, Goldberg announced that he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat featuring several senior U.S. officials. Participants included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former *Fox News* host.
Goldberg received a chat invitation last Thursday, merely two days after accepting a connection request from an account that allegedly belonged to National Security Advisor Michael Waltz.
### **Signal: An Uncommon Tool for Military Coordination**
Signal, a secure messaging platform with end-to-end encryption, is frequently utilized by journalists, activists, and whistleblowers for discreet communication. While it’s not uncommon for politicians to reach out to journalists via Signal, employing it for military strategy discussions is quite atypical.
Generally, such sensitive conversations take place face-to-face or through SIPRNet (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network), a classified system intended for secure communications. The choice of a civilian-accessible app for wartime coordination raised immediate concerns for Goldberg, who initially doubted the legitimacy of the chat.
### **Validation Through Airstrikes**
Goldberg’s doubts were alleviated when U.S. airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen occurred on Saturday—exactly as detailed in the Signal chat. Within moments, the group chat became filled with congratulatory messages and emojis, including a fist, an American flag, and fire emojis from Waltz.
Two hours prior to the strikes, Hegseth had disclosed specifics of the impending operation, including weaponry, targets, and timing.
“The content of these messages, if accessed by an adversary, could have jeopardized American military and intelligence personnel,” Goldberg noted.
Upon this realization, he exited the chat and contacted U.S. officials for further insight.
### **Government Acknowledges the Breach**
The National Security Council (NSC) later verified the legitimacy of the Signal chat but attempted to downplay the gravity of the security breach.
“This seems to be an authentic message string, and we are examining how an incorrect number got added,” NSC spokesman Brian Hughes said. “The conversation illustrates deep and thoughtful policy coordination among senior officials. The success of the Houthi operation indicates there were no threats to troops or national security.”
Nonetheless, the success of the operation does not eliminate the potential dangers linked to the leak.
### **Limited Consequences for Involved Officials**
Despite the obvious security lapse, it appears that officials in the chat are unlikely to face significant consequences. Speaker Mike Johnson defended their actions, rejecting any notion of disciplinary action.
“What you witnessed was high-level officials performing their roles and executing a plan with precision,” Johnson commented.
The White House also backed them, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserting that “President Trump retains the highest confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.”
However, *POLITICO* reports that internal discussions are in progress regarding the potential removal of Waltz from his post, with Trump anticipated to make a decision soon.
### **Trump and Supporters Dismiss the Situation**
Trump addressed the uproar on his social media platform, Truth Social, by ridiculing *The Atlantic*. He shared a parody article from *The Babylon Bee* titled, *”4D Chess: Genius Trump Leaks War Plans to ‘The Atlantic’ Where No One Will Ever See Them.”*
Elon Musk also chimed in, posting a screenshot of the article with the caption: “Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of *The Atlantic* magazine, because no one ever goes there.”
Meanwhile, Hegseth attacked Goldberg, accusing him of disseminating “hoaxes” despite the verification of the messages. However, he also contradicted the administration’s position by outright denying the report.
“Nobody was messaging war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that,” Hegseth remarked.
### **Democrats Demand Investigation**
Democrats have criticized the incident, with some calling for an investigation.
“Incompetence so severe that it could have endangered American lives,” Rep. Seth Moulton wrote on X. “This information should have never been communicated through non-secure channels.”
### **JD Vance’s Private Concerns and a Deepfake Controversy**
Interestingly, the leaked messages also showcased internal divisions within the Trump administration. Vance voiced concerns regarding the Yemen strikes, asserting that they primarily benefitted Europe rather than the U.S.
“I am not