Trump Officials Discussed Secret Yemen Strike Plans on Signal, Accidentally Added Journalist

[Social Media]

 

Former national security officials have reacted with shock and disbelief following a report by The Atlantic that revealed members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet had shared detailed operational plans for US military strikes on Yemen in a group chat using the encrypted messaging app Signal. Adding to the gravity of the situation, a journalist was mistakenly included in the conversation.

 

The Trump administration acknowledged the authenticity of the messages but provided no explanation for why sensitive national security discussions occurred outside classified government systems. According to The Atlantic, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz initiated a text conversation earlier this month with top US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to discuss military action against Houthi militants threatening international shipping in the Red Sea. Unintentionally, Waltz also added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the chat.

 

 

REPORTER: “Mr. President, your reaction to the story from The Atlantic that said some of your top cabinet officials and aids have been discussing very sensitive material through Signal…what is your response to that?” 

TRUMP: “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business. I think it’s not much of a magazine.”

REPORTER: “Mr. President, your reaction to the story from The Atlantic that said some of your top cabinet officials and aids have been discussing very sensitive material through Signal…what is your response to that?”

TRUMP: “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of… pic.twitter.com/h0jA5vSQC4

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) March 24, 2025

 

The messages contained discussions on the timing of the strikes, which were later executed. Following the operation, the officials congratulated themselves before Goldberg discreetly removed himself from the chat. The incident left former officials stunned. “Dear Sweet Baby Jesus,” one former senior US official remarked in response to the report. Another former official, when asked if the Biden administration had ever used Signal in a similar manner, simply replied, “No.”

 

Signal is widely used by journalists and government officials due to its strong encryption, but national security experts warn that discussing classified military operations on such a platform presents an unacceptable risk. Several officials confirmed they could not recall any previous instance in which Signal had been used to share classified information. Security protocols dictate that top officials should communicate through secure systems designed for classified material. “They broke every procedure known to man about protecting operational material before a military strike,” a former senior intelligence official said. “You have a total breakdown in security about a military operation.”

 

 

Although Signal is considered highly secure, reports indicate state-backed hackers have attempted to breach it. A recent report from Google-owned security firm Mandiant found that Russian-linked operatives had tried to infiltrate the Signal accounts of Ukrainian military personnel. A Western intelligence official acknowledged Signal’s strong encryption but stated, “It should never be used for classified or operational data, let alone policy discussions at a top government level.”

 

Using an unapproved app to discuss classified information and mistakenly including a journalist in the chat raises serious legal implications, including potential violations of the Espionage Act, which criminalizes the mishandling of national defense information. Former Justice Department officials noted that such an error would typically trigger an FBI investigation. However, because senior Trump administration officials were involved, it is unlikely that any internal investigation will take place. “If anyone else did it, no question it would be investigated,” a former Justice Department official said.

 

Trump distanced himself from the controversy when asked about the revelations. “I don’t know anything about it,” he told reporters. “I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic… I know nothing about it. You’re telling me about it for the first time.” He dismissed concerns about the breach’s impact, saying, “It couldn’t have been very effective, because the attack was very effective.”

 

According to The Atlantic, Hegseth shared specific operational details in the chat, including target locations, weapons to be deployed, and attack sequencing. CIA Director John Ratcliffe also contributed, sharing what appeared to be intelligence-related information. Former officials believe this information was likely classified at the highest level. Former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta criticized the blunder, saying, “Somebody needs to get fired. How the name of a journalist was added to that list—this is just a serious blunder.” Panetta warned that if the reporter had been someone other than Goldberg, they could have immediately relayed the information to Houthi militants, potentially leading to attacks on US forces.

 

The US government has dedicated systems for classified communication, such as the Secret Internet Protocol Router (SIPR) network and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS). Experts pointed out that classified information cannot be forwarded from these systems to an unclassified network, meaning Hegseth or someone working for him would have had to manually transfer it. “He somehow had to transfer it or copy it to get it onto Signal in the first place,” a former defense official explained. “You can’t forward a classified email to an unclassified system.”

 

National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes acknowledged the authenticity of the message thread and stated that officials were reviewing how an “inadvertent number” was added. “The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security,” Hughes said in a statement.

 

Vice President Vance expressed concerns in the chat about the potential political ramifications of the strikes. “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.,” Vance reportedly wrote.

 

Despite the breach, Trump administration officials focused on defending their internal discussions rather than addressing the security implications of using Signal. William Martin, communications director for Vice President Vance, insisted, “The Vice President’s first priority is always making sure that the President’s advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.”

 

The revelations sparked outrage among congressional Democrats, with some vowing to press intelligence officials for answers in an upcoming House Intelligence Committee hearing on national security threats. Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, the committee’s top Democrat, stated, “I am horrified by reports that our most senior national security officials, including the heads of multiple agencies, shared sensitive and almost certainly classified information via a commercial messaging application, including imminent war plans.” He emphasized the “calamitous risks of transmitting classified information across unclassified systems” and warned that, if true, such actions would represent a flagrant violation of laws designed to safeguard national security.

 

The controversy is particularly ironic given past Republican criticisms of private email use for classified government business. In 2016, then-Senator Marco Rubio lambasted Hillary Clinton for using a private email server, saying, “Hillary Clinton put some of the highest, most sensitive intelligence information on her private server because maybe she thinks she’s above the law… This is unacceptable. This is a disqualifier.”

 

 

Based on a report by CNN  2025-03-25

 

 

[flyingtlger]

[jerrymahoney]

Amateurs.

[Gsxrnz]

Good God! Next he'll install a secret email server in Kai's roommates closet and organize mysterious donations to Haiti, and 51 prominent  former intelligence agency officials (who now don't have security clearance) will accuse him of Russian collusion. I'm shocked! 

[SiSePuede419]

The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans

By Jeffrey Goldberg

 

"They all look alike"..?!?

 

It's hard to tell your liberal Jews from your MAGA Nazi Jews. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Dcheech]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

The controversy is particularly ironic given past Republican criticisms of private email use for classified government business. In 2016, then-Senator Marco Rubio lambasted Hillary Clinton for using a private email server, saying, “Hillary Clinton put some of the highest, most sensitive intelligence information on her private server because maybe she thinks she’s above the law… This is unacceptable. This is a disqualifier.”

Republicans always howl the loudest, until they eff up and the shoe is on the other foot.  Fricking incompetents.

[Tug]

Ahh only the best he said………somehow I’m not the least surprised…..

[SiSePuede419]

Maybe put a breathalyzer on Drunky Pete's texting phone?

 

Blow over the limit and no texts until you sober up, son. 😃

[theshu25]

What would you expect with the village idiots the orange grifting fool employed.

[HappyExpat57]

They removed all the folks who knew how to properly secure critical communication. Putin and Xi are toasting Musk and his yapping lapdog over this.

 

As I posted elseswhere:

US security is now in the hands of ignorant people who are doing on-the-job training. It will all be fine in a few years, though it might be a good idea for citizens to brush up on their Russian language skills.

 

And HEY - their hair looks spectacular when their "Oopsies" are featured on the news, or at least will be featured until anything anti-Musk et al gets shut down.

[Chomper Higgot]

This is far more serious than simply the incident for which we now have absolutely no proof.

 

It is obvious that the Trump administration is conducting the business of Government outside of the secure communications networks they are provided and that the records of their communications are being deleted by the app they are using, in breach of the Presidential Records and  Federal Records Acts.

 

It’s Government of the U.S. off the record.

 

The amateur mistake is they’ve been caught out, but choosing to conduct national security and actual military planning discussions over a non secure network that automatically erases the discussion was a deliberate choice.

 

The first question Congress need to get answers for is who in the Administration is using ‘Signal’ for any Government business and who authorized/coordinated the use of ‘Signal’.

 

Now imagine for a moment if this had been the Biden Administration, FOX News and the NYP would be in a months long all caps screaming fest, Jim Jordan would be throwing an apoplectic fit.

 

We’ll have to make do with crickets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JimHuaHin]

Maybe the time has come for the USA's senior professional intelligence, military and security leaders hold a meeting on planning and staging a coup to rid save the USA from these politically elected and appointed super idiots.

[Hamus Yaigh]

[Purdey]

It seems the mistakes are building. Trump withdrew the security clearance of Adam Kinzinger. But Adam Kinzinger didn't have a security clearance anyway. Not important but a sign the amateurs are running the country.

[Phulublub]

anyone interested may wish to lookback at FOX NEWS footage of Pete Hegseth (among others) insisting anyone in Government service who used unsecured comms should be held accountae for treasonable acts!!!

 

And Tulsi Gabbard, sicne being appointed, saying the DOJ will be prosecuting anyone leaking classified information...

 

Will we see action on any of this?  Doubtful!!

 

PH

[BKKKevin]

They were once all up in arms over Hillary’s email server…
Meanwhile these guys are group texting like they are setting up a Call of Duty match… 

[worgeordie]

A comedy of errors , will they be investigated .....doubt it 

 

regards Worgeordie

[HappyExpat57]

6 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

A comedy of errors , will they be investigated .....doubt it 

 

regards Worgeordie

It will be investigated, but it will result merely in finger wagging by the inept and impotent Democrats.

[Yagoda]

Well if its true, nobody died like in the shameful Biden retreat from Afghanistan. Guess there are levels of mistakes.

[SiSePuede419]

1 hour ago, theshu25 said:

What would you expect with the village idiots the orange grifting fool employed.

tOp SEkRIT cHat CaVe

not so SEkRIT. 😘

[LosLobo]

1 hour ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

I'm sure even Alan Turing, who cracked Hitler's Enigma code, would struggle to make any sense of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz's secret codes. 

[SiSePuede419]

23 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Well if its true, nobody died like in the shameful Biden retreat from Afghanistan

Just Top Secret War plans discussed on the internet where any hacker can easily see them.

You morons still trying to pretend this level of stupidity is "normal"

PS. Why no outrage about war plan you claim Hillary and Biden are warmongers and Trump is...

Peaceful.

Just like Putin.

Suckers.

😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣😭

[SiSePuede419]

1 hour ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

Michael Walz seems like a real MAGA jack@ss 😂

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Maybe put a breathalyzer on Drunky Pete's texting phone?

 

Blow over the limit and no texts until you sober up, son. 😃

Even Fox can’t defend this clown. 
 

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5211960-fox-brit-hume-hegseth-response-war-plans-leak/

 

 

[Yagoda]

16 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Just Top Secret War plans discussed on the internet where any hacker can easily see them.

You morons still trying to pretend this level of stupidity is "normal"

PS. Why no outrage about war plan you claim Hillary and Biden are warmongers and Trump is...

Peaceful.

Just like Putin.

Suckers.

😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣😭

Maybe they wanted folks to see.

 

 

[SiSePuede419]

5 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Maybe they wanted folks to see.

On Monday, Fox News anchor John Roberts praised Goldberg hours after publishing the bombshell report.

 

“I would think that there are probably worse people that you could text your secret plans to"

 

Yeah, you got to see it. 👈

 

Top Secret Intel broadcast on unclassified internet where any hacker could see it.

 

And it was revealed only when they mistakenly included a journalist.

 

Can you imagine the royal <deleted> ups these clowns have done that haven't been revealed yet? 😂

[spidermike007]

Considering that one of his major campaign promises was to NOT get America involved in new wars, this appears to just be another broken promise by a broken man, conducting a broken administration, with bottom of the barrel pics, attempting to lead a nation in a time of great troubles. Woe is America under the goons "leadership".

[Chomper Higgot]

48 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Well if its true, nobody died like in the shameful Biden retreat from Afghanistan. Guess there are levels of mistakes.

But but but Biden.

[Yagoda]

4 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

On Monday, Fox News anchor John Roberts praised Goldberg hours after publishing the bombshell report.

 

“I would think that there are probably worse people that you could text your secret plans to"

 

Yeah, you got to see it. 👈

 

Top Secret Intel broadcast on unclassified internet where any hacker could see it.

 

And it was revealed only when they mistakenly included a journalist.

 

Can you imagine the royal <deleted> ups these clowns have done that haven't been revealed yet? 😂

I dont know what a Fox news anchor has to do with anything. Yemen and Iran will be smoking holes soon anyway. Give them some notice to fire up their radars (the crappy Russian ones that are left) so the Wild Weasels can blast them.

 

You do know you need Radars to be turned on so you can find and destroy them, especially Mobile ones like the Nebo-M.

 

Hey Abdul, look they are going to attack us. Quick, turn on the radar LOL.

 

Boom.

[Yagoda]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

But but but Biden.

Wow. Deep.