Hegseth Disputes Major Security Breach: Journalist Claims ‘Accidentally’ Added to Senior Trump Officials’ Chat on Houthi Airstrikes

A major security controversy is unfolding after The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief says he was mistakenly added to a Signal chat where top Trump officials discussed plans for military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen.

Key Facts:

  • The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg says he was accidentally added to a Signal chat with senior Trump officials on March 11.
  • The chat group, called “Houthi PC Small Group,” allegedly included VP JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and others.
  • The group reportedly discussed in detail a pending strike on Houthi targets in Yemen, including timing and operational risks.
  • Goldberg claims he saw classified information posted by Hegseth that revealed strike times and military tactics.
  • Pete Hegseth has strongly denied the report, saying, “Nobody was texting war plans,” and accused Goldberg of fabricating the story.

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The Rest of The Story:

Jeffrey Goldberg says he received a connection request on Signal from someone appearing to be National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

After accepting, he was added to a chat where senior Trump administration members allegedly discussed a planned strike on Houthi forces in Yemen.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have attacked ships in the Red Sea and disrupted trade through the Suez Canal.

Goldberg claims he watched as top officials debated the timing and political fallout of the strike.

VP JD Vance reportedly questioned the move, while Pete Hegseth supported proceeding soon to avoid leaks and ensure U.S. control of the situation.

Goldberg says Hegseth later posted classified strike details that, if seen by foreign enemies, could have endangered American lives.

The National Security Council acknowledged the Signal thread and said it is investigating how the breach occurred.

Trump downplayed the incident, saying he doesn’t read The Atlantic, while Hegseth called Goldberg’s story “garbage” and denied war plans were shared.

Commentary:

If Goldberg’s account is true, this is a deeply troubling breach of national security.

High-level military discussions, complete with operational details and timing, should never be sent over a messaging app—especially with a journalist accidentally on the thread.

Goldberg’s timeline matches real-world events.

He claims the chat gave a strike time of 1:45 p.m. ET on March 15, and by 1:55 p.m., explosions were being reported in Yemen’s capital.

That kind of accuracy raises serious questions about what he saw and whether it really was a mistake that he was included.

Hegseth says it’s a lie and insists no war plans were texted.

But his blanket denial doesn’t address Goldberg’s specific claims about the conversation’s content and timing.

If even a fraction of what Goldberg alleges is true, it reveals a stunning lack of discipline within Trump’s top security circle.

Some argue this wasn’t an accident at all—that Goldberg was included to send a message to Europe.

VP Vance’s comments about not wanting to “bail Europe out again” show the internal tension over U.S. involvement in protecting global trade.

If this was a strategic leak, it crosses a dangerous line.

Democrats are now demanding Hegseth resign.

Whether or not that happens, Americans deserve clear answers.

Either the Atlantic’s editor fabricated a conversation with top U.S. officials on a secure app—an extremely serious claim—or a journalist was included in real-time war planning, and no one noticed.

Accident or not, this should never happen.

The risks are too great, and our enemies are always watching.

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The Bottom Line:

America’s top military leaders allegedly held a detailed discussion about Yemen strikes on an unsecure app—with a journalist accidentally watching.

If true, the breach is inexcusable.

The dispute between Goldberg and Hegseth demands a full investigation.

National security should never be this sloppy—no matter who’s in charge.

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