Trump Officials Expose Military Plans in Signal Group Chat

Liam Saranich | News Editor

​In a significant security lapse, senior officials within the Trump administration inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, in a Signal group chat discussing top-secret military operations in Yemen. This breach has raised serious concerns about the handling of classified information at the highest levels of government.​

On March 11, 2025, a Signal group chat titled "Houthi PC Small Group" was created to discuss the possible U.S. airstrikes against Yemen's Houthi militants. The group included 18 top officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to this confidential discussion. Goldberg, once realizing the sensitive nature of the information, documented the exchange, which detailed attack plans, timelines, and strategic objectives. His report has created a firestorm of criticism and calls for accountability. 

The mistake of adding a journalist in a high-level security discussion is unprecedented. Goldberg reported that the chat provided a minute-by-minute breakdown of the planned military strikes, including specific targets and weapon systems to be used. This level of detail, being shared over an unclassified platform, creates significant risks to operational security and shows a grave lapse in protocol. ​

In response to the security breach, President Donald Trump stated he was unaware of the incident and downplayed its importance, stating that the addition of Goldberg had no impact at all on the Yemen operation. Defense Secretary Hegseth denied that war plans were discussed in the chat, labeling media reports as exaggerated. His denial has done little to reduce bipartisan concern over the administration's handling of sensitive information. ​

The breach has caused strong reactions from both sides of the political aisle. Democratic lawmakers have demanded a thorough investigation, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer calling it a significant military intelligence failure. Critics argue that the use of a commercial messaging app for classified discussions shows a major disregard for security protocols and compromises national security.

The incident shows the vulnerabilities associated with using commercial applications like Signal for transmitting classified information. While Signal offers end-to-end encryption, experts caution that the security of such platforms is only as good as the devices used and following of strict communication protocols. Unauthorized access, whether through human error or technical compromise, can lead to significant breaches, as evidenced in this case.

This breach is similar to past incidents where mishandling of classified information led to public outcry and policy changes. However, the direct inclusion of a journalist in a real-time discussion of military operations never happened, setting a concerning precedent for information security within the administration.​

After the security breach, there have been bipartisan calls for the resignation of key officials involved. Critics argue that such a lapse demonstrates a profound failure in safeguarding national security and a cause for immediate corrective action. The administration has promised to review and reinforce communication protocols to prevent future incidents. ​

The accidental inclusion of a journalist in a confidential Signal group chat discussing military operations highlights critical lapses in the Trump administration's handling of classified information. This incident serves as a huge reminder of the importance of maintaining security protocols and the potential consequences of not doing so. As investigations continue, it is important for the administration to address this incident to create confidence in their commitment to national security.