The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg received classified US military plans for Yemen strikes after being mistakenly added to a high-level Signal group chat with top Trump administration officials, according to an article he published Monday. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth inadvertently sent detailed war plans to Goldberg about two hours before American forces bombed Houthi targets across Yemen on March 15. The information included specific details about weapons, targets, and the timing of the operation.
National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had created the Signal chat group – called "Houthi PC small group" for principals committee – which included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to The Atlantic.
The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the Signal group, telling The Atlantic that "this appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain." The mistake revealed significant policy disagreements within the administration. Vice President Vance expressed reservations about the timing of the strikes, writing: "I think we are making a mistake... There is a real risk that the public doesn't understand this or why it's necessary."
Vance suggested delaying the operation, noting concerns about inconsistency with the president's European messaging and potential oil price spikes. His office later insisted to The Atlantic that he "unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy." Hegseth defended the operation, emphasizing it was about "restoring freedom of navigation" and reestablishing deterrence that the "Biden cratered."
Remarkably, Goldberg remained in the group for days without anyone noticing. The editor watched in real-time as Hegseth shared operational details of the strikes, then confirmed the chat was genuine when explosions in Yemen matched the timeline described in the texts. After the strikes, officials celebrated in the chat, with Waltz posting emoji of a fist, American flag, and fire, while White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles wrote: "Kudos to all – most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM!"
National security experts consulted by The Atlantic raised serious concerns about using a commercial messaging app for sharing classified details, suggesting possible violations of the Espionage Act and federal records laws.
