On March 15, 2025, a significant security breach occurred when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inadvertently included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military operations in Yemen. The chat, intended for senior Trump administration officials, contained detailed information about planned airstrikes against Houthi rebels, including specifics on weapons, targets, and timing.
Other participants in the chat included Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, received an invitation to the group chat on March 11. Despite the sensitive nature of the information shared, the chat occurred on the unclassified messaging platform Signal. Two hours before the public announcement of the airstrikes, Goldberg was aware of the operation due to the information inadvertently shared in the chat.
Following the incident, Hegseth denied that “war plans” were discussed, attributing the reports to media misinterpretation. He criticized Goldberg, labeling him deceitful. The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the chat and is reviewing how Goldberg was mistakenly added.
This breach has raised concerns among U.S. allies, particularly in Europe, about the security of communications within the Trump administration.