Trump admin’s signal slip: Houthi strike leak or texting blunder?

The Trump administration is facing scrutiny after a significant leak occurred through a Signal group chat that inadvertently included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, a renowned American magazine.

Goldberg claims he was added to a high-level discussion about military plans for last week’s Houthi strikes in Yemen. The chat reportedly contained sensitive details about the operation, including target locations and weapons.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the incident, calling it a case of "thoughtful coordination" gone awry, but many are questioning the security implications of the breach.

According to Goldberg, the leak began on March 11 when National Security Adviser Michael Waltz mistakenly added him to the group chat. By March 13, Goldberg found himself in a conversation with high-ranking officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Senator Marco Rubio, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, discussing the upcoming strikes.

The chat, which allegedly included discussions of the targets and tactical details, came just days before the US and allied forces launched airstrikes on the Houthi rebels on March 15.

When asked about the issue, President Donald Trump responded briefly from the White House, stating, "I don't know anything about it. I'm not a fan of The Atlantic magazine."

Critics have raised concerns about the use of a commercial app for such sensitive discussions, especially considering Signal’s auto-deletion feature and the potential for the information to be accessed by unauthorized parties.

The White House on Monday confirmed that a journalist was included in a text group in which US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others planned military strikes in Yemen.

"We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain," National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said.

However, the incident has sparked a wave of bipartisan criticism. Democratic lawmakers have called it a serious lapse in operational security, while some Republicans have echoed concerns about the breach.

Experts in national security have also weighed in, with former intelligence officials highlighting the risks of using platforms like Signal for military communication.

While the Houthis have not commented on the leak, the Trump administration's response to the incident remains under scrutiny. The fallout from this breach continues, with many questioning whether this was a serious national security lapse or simply a case of poor communication practices.