According to Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, several top U.S. officials working in the current Trump administration were engaged in a discussion regarding war plans to conduct airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in a group chat. It so happens that Jeffrey Goldberg, a journalist, was accidentally added to this group chat, gaining access to highly sensitive and confidential discussions that were not intended for his eyes.
The world found out shortly before 2 p.m. eastern time on March 15 that the United States was bombing Houthi targets across Yemen. I, however, knew two hours before the first bombs exploded that the attack might be coming. The reason I knew this is that Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense, had texted me the war plan at 11:44 a.m. The plan included precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing.
Jeffrey Goldberg
Reportedly, Jeffrey Goldberg received a connection request on the messaging app Signal from Michael Waltz. While Signal is known for its strong encryption, it is not considered secure enough for discussing highly sensitive topics, such as war plans involving airstrikes in Yemen. Initially, Goldberg assumed that the request was not from the real Michael Waltz, the National Security Advisor in the current Trump administration, especially given President Trump’s historically strained relationship with him. But his suspicions were proven false after two days when he was added to a group chat called “Houthi PC small group.”.
When Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a group chat named "Houthi PC Small Group," he discovered that it included several high-ranking officials from the Trump administration, such as J.D. Vance, Tulsi Gabbard, Michael Waltz, Pete Hegseth, and others. In the chat, these officials discussed plans to launch airstrikes against the Houthis after President Trump issued direct orders to clear international waters of the blockade imposed by the militant group in the Red Sea.
Additionally, J.D. Vance and Pete Hegseth expressed frustration over the operation, complaining that the U.S. was taking action on behalf of Europe, implying that ensuring maritime security in the region should be Europe's responsibility rather than America's.
If you think we should do it Let's go I just hate bailing Europe Again.
JD Vance, Vice President
Jeffrey Goldberg's article exposed numerous positions held by key officials in the current Trump administration while also revealing the poor operational security (OpSec) practiced by these officials. Their lack of security measures put sensitive information at risk, increasing the possibility that it could fall into the wrong hands and potentially jeopardize U.S. national security.