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Top US officials appeared to message a journalist Houthi strike plans Top US officials appeared to message a journalist Houthi strike plans
(about 5 hours later)
National security adviser Michael Waltz in the Oval Office with President Trump. Watch: 'Nobody was texting war plans', says Pete Hegseth in response to The Atlantic report
The White House has confirmed that a journalist was inadvertently added to an unsecure group chat in which US national security officials planned a military strike in Yemen. The Trump administration is facing political uproar after the White House confirmed that a journalist was inadvertently added to an unsecure group chat in which US national security officials planned a military strike in Yemen.
The Atlantic magazine's Jeffrey Goldberg reported that he was included on a Signal message group where Vice-President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth were apparently among members.The Atlantic magazine's Jeffrey Goldberg reported that he was included on a Signal message group where Vice-President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth were apparently among members.
He said he saw classified military plans for US strikes on Houthi rebels, including precise details of weapons packages, targets and timing, two hours before the first bombs struck. He said he saw classified military plans for US strikes on Houthi rebels, including weapons packages, targets and timing, two hours before the bombs struck.
Goldberg said he was added to the message chain, apparently by accident, after receiving a connection request from someone who appeared to be White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz. The report sparked a firestorm of criticism from Democrats and concerns among several Republicans.
Watch: President Trump says he knows 'nothing' about journalist in Houthi strike group chatWatch: President Trump says he knows 'nothing' about journalist in Houthi strike group chat
Critics call for investigation over leak
Goldberg said he was added to the message chain, apparently by accident, after receiving a connection request from someone who appeared to be White House National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.
"If they were going to pick an errant phone number, I mean at least it wasn't somebody who supported the Houthis, because they were actually handing out information that I believe could have endangered the lives of American service people who were involved in that operation," he told PBS in an interview.
President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday afternoon that he was not aware of the Atlantic article.President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday afternoon that he was not aware of the Atlantic article.
"The attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement."The attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
"President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.""President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz."
On 15 March, the US launched what it described as a "decisive and powerful" series of air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen. The defence secretary also defended the military operation discussed in the chat, citing its success. When pressed by reporters, Hegseth criticised Goldberg as a "deceitful and highly discredited" journalist and resisted questions about the content of the messages.
Four days earlier, on 11 March, Atlantic editor-in-chief Goldberg writes that he received the connection request on the encrypted messaging app Signal from an account that purported to be Mr Waltz's. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said the breach was a mistake, but argued that the chat showed "top level officials doing their job, doing it well".
Live updates: Yemen strike plans shared with journalist Democratic lawmakers demanded an investigation, casting the episode as a national security scandal.
Signal is used by journalists and Washington officials because of the secure nature of its communications, the ability to create aliases, and to send disappearing messages. "This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence that I have read about in a very, very long time," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.
Two days later, Goldberg said he was added to a Signal chat entitled "Houthi PC small group." Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, said his panel planned to investigate the matter.
"It's definitely a concern," he added. "It appears that mistakes were made."
Watch: Senator Chuck Schumer demands 'full investigation' of Yemen strike group chat
Vance disagrees with Trump
On 11 March, Atlantic editor-in-chief Goldberg writes in his article that he received a connection request on the encrypted messaging app Signal from an account that purported to be Waltz's.
He said he initially wondered if the group chat messages might be a hoax until four days later, Saturday 15 March, when he was sitting in a supermarket car park, watching Signal communications about a strike.
When he checked X for updates about Yemen, he wrote, he was stunned to see reports of explosions in the capital city of Sanaa.
A Houthi official posted on X at the time that 53 people had been killed in the US air strikes.
Signal is generally used by journalists and Washington officials because of the secure nature of its communications, the ability to create aliases, and to send disappearing messages.
Two days later, Goldberg said he was added to a Signal chat entitled "Houthi PC small group".
A number of accounts that appeared to belong to cabinet members and national security officials were included in the 18-person chat, Goldberg reported.A number of accounts that appeared to belong to cabinet members and national security officials were included in the 18-person chat, Goldberg reported.
Accounts labelled "JD Vance", the name of the vice-president; "Pete Hegseth," the defence secretary; and "John Ratcliffe," director of the Central Intelligence Agency; were among names in the chain.Accounts labelled "JD Vance", the name of the vice-president; "Pete Hegseth," the defence secretary; and "John Ratcliffe," director of the Central Intelligence Agency; were among names in the chain.
Top national security officials from various agencies also appeared in it, including Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's director of national intelligence, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Top national security officials from various agencies also appeared in it, including Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's director of national intelligence, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Live updates: Yemen strike plans shared with journalist
Trump's national security team's chat app leak stuns Washington
At one point during the communications over the strikes, the account labelled "JD Vance" seemed to disagree with Trump, Goldberg reported.At one point during the communications over the strikes, the account labelled "JD Vance" seemed to disagree with Trump, Goldberg reported.
"I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now," the Vance account wrote at approximately 8:15 on 14 March."I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now," the Vance account wrote at approximately 8:15 on 14 March.
"There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices."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."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.""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."
In a statement to the BBC on Monday, Vance spokesman William Martin said the vice-president "unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy.In a statement to the BBC on Monday, Vance spokesman William Martin said the vice-president "unequivocally supports this administration's foreign policy.
"The president and the vice-president have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement," Martin said."The president and the vice-president have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement," Martin said.
Goldberg writes that he initially "had very strong doubts that this text group was real, because I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans." The National Security Council confirmed much of the Atlantic report.
The National Security Council did not deny the Atlantic report. Spokesman Brian Hughes told the BBC: "At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic. We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.
Spokesman Brian Hughes told the BBC: "At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic. "We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.
"The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy co-ordination between senior officials.""The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy co-ordination between senior officials."
Watch: Goldberg says officials got 'lucky’ it was him inadvertently added to group chat
An excerpt of the Signal group chat with senior US officials that Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, was reportedly added to. Messages blast 'pathetic' Europe
On 15 March, Goldberg writes that he was sitting in a supermarket car park, watching Signal communications about a strike.
When he checked X for updates about Yemen, he wrote, he saw reports of explosions in the capital city of Sanaa.
The Trump administration launched strikes on 15 March. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that "Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at US aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies".
The president wrote that "piracy, violence, and terrorism" by the Houthis had cost "billions" and put lives at risk.
A Houthi official posted on X that 53 people had been killed, the BBC reported.
Publicly, Trump administration officials fanned out on television to speak about the strikes.
"We just hit them with overwhelming force and put Iran on notice that enough is enough," Waltz said on ABC News.
The US strikes against the Houthis have been ongoing. They launched additional strikes against the Houthis overnight into Monday, the Associated Press reported.
Goldberg reported that the officials also discussed the potential for Europe to pay for US protection of key shipping lanes.Goldberg reported that the officials also discussed the potential for Europe to pay for US protection of key shipping lanes.
"Whether it's now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes," was written by the account associated with Waltz on 14 March. "Whether it's now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes," the account associated with Waltz wrote on 14 March.
The message continued, saying that at Trump's request, his team was working with the defence department and state department "to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans".The message continued, saying that at Trump's request, his team was working with the defence department and state department "to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans".
Democratic lawmakers demanded an investigation. At one point in the thread the Vance account griped that the strikes would benefit the Europeans, because of their reliance on those shipping lanes, adding: "I just hate bailing Europe out again."
"This is one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence that I have read about in a very, very long time," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said. The user identified as Hegseth responded three minutes later: "VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC."
Watch: Former defence adviser Mara Karlin says group chat mishap 'not normal'