Trump Officials Accidentally Add Atlantic Editor to Classified Yemen Strike Chat, Exposing Military Plans
Senior Trump administration officials accidentally added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a classified Signal group chat containing sensitive military strike plans against Houthi targets in Yemen, marking a significant national security breach.
The chat included detailed operational information such as:
- GPS coordinates of strike zones
- Aerial strike schedules and aircraft details
- Names of U.S. military officers involved
- Launch windows for drones and missile systems
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was among the officials who shared tactical information in the chat. Upon discovering his accidental inclusion, Goldberg remained silent and immediately notified proper authorities. The Atlantic confirmed he did not screenshot or share any of the sensitive content.
"I was surprised to be added to a group chat clearly not meant for me. I said nothing. But I saw everything. Out of respect for national security, I contacted the proper authorities immediately," Goldberg stated.
A formal investigation has been launched to determine:
- The person responsible for adding Goldberg
- Potential federal law violations
- Total extent of unauthorized access
The Yemen strikes have been postponed while military planners revise the mission. Former intelligence officials warn that such operational security breaches could have endangered lives and compromised military objectives.
"This is the kind of information foreign adversaries dream of getting their hands on. That it was sent – casually – on a chat app is unconscionable," noted one national security expert.
The incident has sparked bipartisan criticism and calls for congressional oversight, adding to existing concerns about the Trump administration's handling of classified information. While the White House describes it as a "miscommunication," internal sources indicate widespread alarm at the Department of Defense over the breach.
An ongoing investigation will determine potential consequences and necessary security protocol changes to prevent similar incidents in the future.