Top Trump Officials Inadvertently Disclose War Plans in Signal Chat, Prompting Security Concerns

Washington, D.C. – Senior officials in the Trump administration inadvertently disclosed sensitive military plans in an encrypted messaging group that included a journalist, the White House confirmed on Monday. The incident occurred just hours before the United States launched airstrikes against Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, raising serious concerns about national security and government transparency.

The revelation, first reported by The Atlantic, prompted immediate criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who called for a congressional investigation into what they termed a reckless and potentially unlawful breach of classified information.

According to The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, he was unexpectedly added to an encrypted Signal chat group on March 13. The group, labeled “Houthi PC small group,” reportedly included top national security officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Within the chat, Waltz tasked his deputy, Alex Wong, with forming a “tiger team” to coordinate U.S. military actions against the Houthis.

National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Brian Hughes later acknowledged the chat’s authenticity, stating that officials were reviewing how an unintended participant was added.

Security Breach Precedes Military Strikes

President Donald Trump initiated large-scale military strikes against the Houthis on March 15 in response to their attacks on Red Sea shipping routes. According to The Atlantic, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inadvertently shared operational details in the Signal chat just hours before the strikes. The information reportedly included target specifics, weapon deployments, and attack sequencing. Goldberg, while refraining from publishing these details, described the disclosure as “shockingly reckless.”

The chat group reportedly included accounts appearing to belong to Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and senior NSC officials. Joe Kent, Trump’s nominee for National Counterterrorism Center director, was also reportedly part of the chat despite not yet receiving Senate confirmation.

When asked about the incident, President Trump denied any knowledge of it, stating, “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic.” A White House official later confirmed that an internal review was underway and that the president had been briefed.

Hegseth denied that the group contained war plans, stating, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.” Goldberg countered this assertion in a CNN interview, calling Hegseth’s denial “a lie.”

Internal Debate Over European Involvement

Screenshots of the chat obtained by The Atlantic indicate that officials engaged in internal debate over the necessity of the strikes. Vice President Vance reportedly expressed reluctance, questioning whether European allies, who are more exposed to disruptions in Red Sea shipping, warranted U.S. intervention.

“If you think we should do it, let’s go,” Vance allegedly wrote to Hegseth. “I just hate bailing Europe out again. Let’s just make sure our messaging is tight here.”

Hegseth reportedly replied: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.”

Vance also appeared to raise concerns about the potential impact of the strikes on oil prices and their alignment with President Trump’s broader stance on European relations. “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” Vance allegedly wrote, while ultimately agreeing to support the consensus within the group.

Calls for Investigation and Legal Scrutiny

The disclosure of classified discussions on an unsecured platform has raised significant legal and ethical concerns. U.S. law prohibits the mishandling of classified information, though it remains unclear whether any statutes were violated in this case. The use of Signal’s disappearing message feature further complicates the matter, as it could potentially breach federal record-keeping laws.

As part of the administration’s broader crackdown on leaks, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard posted on X (formerly Twitter) on March 14, warning that the unauthorized release of classified information “is a violation of the law and will be treated as such.”

Gabbard is scheduled to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday regarding global security threats, where the issue is expected to be a focal point of discussion.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called it “one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence in a very, very long time” and urged an immediate congressional probe. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) echoed the need for a thorough investigation, stating, “We’re just finding out about it, but we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Despite the controversy, the White House has not indicated any immediate personnel changes. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed President Trump’s confidence in his national security team, stating, “President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the use of Signal for sensitive national security discussions, calling it “blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief.” Senator Chris Coons went further, asserting that all officials involved had likely committed a crime, stating, “Every single one of the government officials on this text chain have now committed a crime – even if accidentally – that would normally involve a jail sentence.”

The White House has yet to announce any formal policy changes in response to the incident, but the controversy is likely to remain a point of contention in the coming weeks as congressional inquiries unfold.