On March 24th, according to CCTV News, a remarkable slip-up emerged. Several senior Trump administration officials accidentally discussed highly sensitive military strategies. They were using a non-classified chat app and inadvertently added a journalist into their private conversation. This mishap has swiftly drawn criticism from national security institutions.
Journalist Receives Accidental Invite
Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, found himself unexpectedly included in a group chat. In this chat, Trump’s national security team was orchestrating an attack on Yemen. Goldberg vividly described these heated debates in his detailed article. He revealed behind-the-scenes policy disputes that occurred right before a military strike targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels on March 15th.
Goldberg mentioned he was inadvertently added by Robert O’Brien, Trump’s National Security Advisor, to a secret chat on the encrypted platform Signal. Other key participants included Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Premature Disclosure of Sensitive Information
In his revealing article published on March 24th, Goldberg titled it “Trump’s Administration Accidentally Texted Me Their War Plans.” He detailed receiving critical information hours before the airstrikes. Around 11:44 AM on March 15th, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mistakenly messaged him exact operational details. These details included weapon configurations, specific targets, and precise timing.
Coincidentally, this sensitive information was disclosed merely two hours before bombs began falling on Houthi targets throughout Yemen. This created an unsettling scenario where a journalist had prior knowledge of imminent military operations.
Official Reaction and Damage Control
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, acknowledged the incident. He admitted that details in Goldberg’s exclusive article appeared authentic. Hughes stated government officials were reviewing “an inadvertently included number in the group chat.”
During a press conference at the White House later that day, President Donald Trump asserted confidently that leaking intelligence about the Houthi rebels would have “no real impact.” He cited the success of the strike. White House Press Secretary Levitt reiterated Trump’s firm stance. He emphasized continued “extreme trust” in National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien and the national security team.
