US Journalist Accidentally Included in Classified Military Chat

WASHINGTON (TNND) — A significant security breach occurred within the Trump administration when a U.S. journalist was inadvertently included in a group chat discussing potentially classified military actions against Houthi targets in Yemen. The incident raises concerns about the handling of sensitive information and could potentially violate the Espionage Act.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed he was alerted to the U.S. strikes on Houthis on March 15, two hours before they commenced. In a statement, Goldberg noted that he received a detailed message concerning the war plan from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, which included operational details about weapons packages, target locations, and timing of the strikes.

Goldberg shared his concerns about receiving a connection request from national security advisor Michael Waltz days prior, suspecting the request might be a ruse. Two days later, he received a notification that he had been added to a Signal chat group named the ‘Houthi PC small group,’ typically reserved for senior national security officials.

In that chat, high-level members of the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, discussed the implications of the military actions. The conversation included political considerations about the risks to international trade routes affected by the strikes.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the leak of the Pentagon’s war plan to Goldberg as a “stunning breach of military intelligence.” He called for a full investigation to understand how such a sensitive conversation took place on a commercial messaging app.

Goldberg described the atmosphere in the chat, citing comments that demonstrated skepticism about the strikes and the potential backlash. One participant remarked on the economic burden that the U.S. absorption of European shipping risks presented, highlighting a debate on the rationale for U.S. military involvement.

The campaign of airstrikes against Houthi rebels commenced following the group’s renewed targeting of Israeli shipping vessels. The attacks, which occurred after months of terrorism attributed to the Houthis, marked a significant escalation and were described as necessary to protect maritime trade routes, essential for global commerce.

The White House has stated it is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the unintentional inclusion of Goldberg in the chat and reaffirmed its commitment to addressing any breaches that may undermine national security.