The Atlantic magazine has published the full details of a Signal group chat mistakenly shared with journalist Jeffrey Goldberg by top U.S. national security officials, revealing plans for an imminent attack on Yemen. The leak has sparked a major scandal for President Donald Trump’s administration, which has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the story as a “hoax.”
Sensitive Details Revealed
The chat, conducted on the commercial Signal messaging app instead of a secure government platform, included precise information about the timing of strikes, weather conditions, and the types of aircraft involved. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly shared these details just 30 minutes before the first U.S. warplanes launched on March 15 to target Houthi rebels. The Atlantic initially withheld the full content but decided to publish it after the administration repeatedly denied that classified information was shared.
Hegseth’s messages, titled “TEAM UPDATE,” outlined the timeline of the operation, including the launch of F-18 fighter jets, MQ-9 drones, and Tomahawk missiles. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz later provided real-time updates on the aftermath, praising the operation’s success.
Administration’s Response
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the story, stating, “These were NOT ‘war plans.’ The entire story was another hoax.” However, National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the chat. CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other officials involved testified before Congress, asserting that no classified material was shared.
Potential Risks and Fallout
The Atlantic highlighted the potential risks of the leak, noting that if adversaries like the Houthis had accessed the information, they could have prepared air defenses, endangering U.S. pilots. Former State Department spokesman Ned Price criticized the administration, stating that such information should have been classified as “TOP SECRET.”
The scandal has raised questions about the administration’s use of unsecure communication platforms for sensitive military operations and its handling of national security protocols. The Atlantic’s publication has intensified scrutiny of the Trump administration’s practices, with investigations into the leak ongoing.
