Trump officials ‘accidentally’ shared Yemen strike plans with journalist; here’s what happened next

A major security lapse has come to light after The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he was inadvertently included in a Signal messaging group wherein discussion of US military strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels was underway. The messages, Goldberg said, were exchanged between top officials of the Trump administration and outlined the plans for March 15 attacks.

Goldberg detailed the incident in an article titled The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans. In the report, published on Monday, he disclosed that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz invited him to join a Signal group named Houthi PC small group on March 13—just two days before the strikes took place.

As per the report in The Atlantic, initially skeptical, Goldberg suspected that the group was part of a disinformation campaign. He stated that he had strong doubts about the legitimacy of the texts in the group because he could not believe that national security leadership of the US would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans.


However, the journalist was soon convinced of its authenticity. He saw real-time discussions involving senior officials of the Trump administration, including Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

What happened next

The journalist, in the report, admitted that he quietly exited the group after he realised the significance of the messages. He said that he later sought clarification on why he was included in a sensitive discussion as such.

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The incident has sparked debates on national security protocols, especially the use of informal messaging platforms for high-level military operations.

Bombing of Houthi rebels

On March 15, US forces launched airstrikes targeting leaders of the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen. The Trump administration described the operation as a decisive move against the rebels.

Speaking to ABC News, Mike Waltz later defended the attack and said that it was an overwhelming response which targeted multiple Houthi leaders.

Given the severity of the operation, the exposure of war plans to a journalist raised concerns over security protocols within the administration, as per reports.

White House confirms breach

As per the report, Spokesperson for National Security Council Brian Hughes later had confirmed that the Signal group and text messages were legitimate.

Hughes stated that the thread was a demonstration of deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. He added that the ongoing success of the operation showed there are no threats to troops or national security.

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FAQs

1. When did the US strikes on Yemen take place?

The US military conducted airstrikes on March 15 against the Iran-backed Houthi militia leaders in Yemen in an effort to reduce their influence in the region.

2. How did Jeffrey Goldberg obtain access to the war plans?
Goldberg was inadvertently added to a Signal group messaging group where Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, were discussing the attack.