The Atlantic magazine has exposed detailed plans for US airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, unintentionally shared by top Trump administration officials. Editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg received these plans via the messaging app Signal, marking a significant security breach.
Screenshots from a Signal chat group named “Houthi PC small group” show high-level discussions about the timing and specifics of the airstrikes planned for March 15. This was the first such attack under Donald Trump’s presidency, involving discussions about the types of planes to be used.
Atlantic Reveals Texts From Trump Officials—With Detailed Timeline Of Houthi Attack Planhttps://t.co/f1vnUkQePh pic.twitter.com/r5AhB66nHB
— Forbes (@Forbes) March 26, 2025The chat group had 19 members, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance. Waltz acknowledged the error of accidentally adding Goldberg to this highly sensitive chat.
US Airstrike Plans Leak
Following Hegseth’s public denial of texting war plans, The Atlantic published the screenshots. They argued that publicizing the texts would allow people to form opinions about the administration’s honesty and handling of sensitive information.
BREAKING: “People should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions.” @JeffreyGoldberg and @shaneharris share the group chat in which officials planned strikes on Yemen. https://t.co/oOwwHA1SQh
— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) March 26, 2025The chat also detailed the administration’s coordination efforts for the upcoming military actions, discussing notifications to allies and the sequence of events. High-level officials designated representatives for an immediate response group, emphasizing the urgent nature of the planning.
.@PressSec: No classified information was discussed — and the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the CIA, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the FBI all testified to that under oath. pic.twitter.com/u8kO1o0oI4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 26, 2025The leaks reveal internal debates about the potential impacts of the airstrikes, including risks to global trade and oil prices. Vice President Vance expressed concerns about public misunderstanding and the timing of the actions, suggesting a possible delay in aligning with broader strategic goals.
Read: Trump Admin Confirms Leak of Military Chat to Atlantic Editor
The leak has sparked a wide-ranging discussion about operational security and the appropriateness of using commercial apps for government communications. This incident underscores the challenges of managing sensitive information in the digital age.
