Senior members of Donald Trump’s cabinet have just pulled off one of the biggest security blunders in US history. While discussing top-secret military plans for recent airstrikes in Yemen, they accidentally added a journalist to their private Signal group chat.
Yes, you read that right.
Among those in the chat were Vice-President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Senator Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The chat also included Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles and top adviser Stephen Miller. They were all openly discussing classified details—on an unencrypted messaging app that isn’t even approved for government use.
And right there, watching it all unfold, was Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic.
📢 “100% secure” – famous last words
Goldberg himself revealed the blunder in an article on Monday. He says he couldn’t believe his eyes when he realised he had been added to a chat named “Houthi PC Small Group”, with 18 senior US officials.
To make things even worse, one of the officials literally claimed their communications were totally secure.
At one point, Hegseth reassured the group:
“100% OPSEC – operations security.”
Meanwhile, a journalist was sitting there, reading every word.
🔥 What was leaked?
Goldberg removed the most sensitive details from his account, including the name of a senior CIA officer and operational military plans. However, his article confirms the chat included real-time discussions about an imminent US airstrike on the Houthis.
Some officials questioned whether the strike was even necessary, while others discussed what the US should expect in return from its allies.
In one shocking exchange, Vance and Hegseth shared their disdain for Europe:
Vance: “I just hate bailing Europe out again.”
Hegseth: “I fully share your loathing of European freeloading. It’s PATHETIC.”
Ironically, at least 20 other countries—including the UK—are involved in protecting global shipping routes.
🚨 Political fallout
The White House has confirmed the breach. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes admitted the chat was real, saying:
“We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added.”
Despite this colossal blunder, he bizarrely claimed that the operation’s success proves there was “no threat” to national security.
Others strongly disagree. Democratic congressman Pat Ryan, an army veteran, was furious:
“If House Republicans won’t hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, I’ll do it my damn self.”
💀 “The biggest security fail I’ve ever seen”
National security expert Shane Harris, formerly of The Washington Post, put it bluntly:
“In 25 years of covering national security, I’ve never seen a story like this.”
Goldberg himself initially thought it had to be a prank or disinformation. But as he followed the messages—and watched the strike on Yemen unfold exactly as planned—he realised it was all genuine.
🔥 The group chat’s final messages
As the airstrikes began, the chat lit up with celebrations.
“Amazing job.”
“A good start.”
Marco Rubio chimed in:
“Good job, Pete, and your team!!”
And Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, wrapped it up with:
“Kudos to all – most particularly those in theatre and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless.”
Meanwhile, a journalist had been reading it all.
You may also like: Watch: David Frost slammed with ‘cold hard facts’ about Brexit’s economic damage
