Trump Officials Discuss Houthi Strikes in Secret Chat, Journalist Accidentally Included

A significant security breach occurred when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was inadvertently added to a high-level Signal chat among Trump administration officials discussing military airstrikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen. The chat included key figures like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who deliberated on the strikes set for March 15. Goldberg observed the discussions, which included sensitive military details such as targets and timing, and was taken aback when the actual airstrikes began shortly after he received a message containing the war plan. The National Security Council confirmed the incident and is investigating how a journalist gained access to such confidential discussions. Notably, Vance expressed concerns about the potential backlash from European allies regarding the military action, a sentiment echoed by Hegseth, who argued for the necessity of the strikes. This situation raises serious questions about communication protocols within the Trump administration and the potential risks of including unauthorized individuals in sensitive discussions.