In a shocking security blunder, high-ranking Trump officials reportedly added the wrong person to a sensitive national security chat discussing military strikes on Yemen. The incident has ignited a firestorm of controversy as the liberal Atlantic magazine published details from private conversations they were accidentally privy to.
At a glance:
• The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to a private Signal group chat between Trump administration officials
• Key figures in the chat included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Vice President JD Vance
• The leaked messages allegedly contained discussions about potential airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels
• Secretary Hegseth has denied the chat involved “texting war plans” despite screenshots showing detailed mission timelines
• White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich slammed The Atlantic, accusing them of lying and perpetuating a hoax
Liberal Magazine Obtains Access to Private Trump Administration Communications
The controversy erupted after The Atlantic published details from a Signal text chain involving senior Trump administration officials discussing potential military actions against Houthi targets in Yemen. According to reports, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the private communication channel, giving the liberal publication unprecedented access to sensitive discussions.
The leaked messages involved high-profile figures in the Trump administration including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Vice President JD Vance. Screenshots published by The Atlantic allegedly show detailed discussions about potential military operations, raising serious questions about both national security protocols and the ethics of publishing such information.
Trump Officials Push Back Against Atlantic’s Characterization
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has forcefully denied that the communications contained actual war plans, despite The Atlantic’s publication of screenshots suggesting otherwise. One particularly controversial message reportedly from Hegseth outlined a specific timeline for a military mission involving F-18 fighter jets and drone aircraft against targets in Yemen.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich issued a scathing rebuke of The Atlantic, accusing the publication of deliberate misrepresentation. Budowich said the magazine’s reporting was dishonest and called it part of a coordinated media hoax designed to undermine the Trump administration.
Security Implications and Ongoing Fallout
The controversy continued to develop as Donald Trump mounted a vigorous defense of his administration while attacking The Atlantic’s ethics. Critics questioned why sensitive military discussions would take place over Signal group chats rather than through more secure official channels, while supporters argue the conversation has been taken out of context and sensationalized by the media.
