Trump Officials Accidentally Add Atlantic Editor to Classified Yemen Strike Chat, Exposing Military Plans
In a significant national security breach, Trump administration officials accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to a classified Signal group chat discussing military strike plans against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The chat contained highly sensitive information, including:
- GPS coordinates of strike zones
- Aerial strike schedules and aircraft details
- Names of U.S. military officers
- Launch windows for drones and missile systems
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was among the officials who shared tactical information in the chat. Goldberg, recognizing the gravity of the situation, remained silent and immediately contacted appropriate authorities. The Atlantic confirmed he did not screenshot or share any information from the chat.
The breach has triggered a formal investigation to determine:
- The person responsible for adding Goldberg
- Potential violations of federal law
- The extent of civilian exposure to classified information
"This is the kind of information foreign adversaries dream of getting their hands on. That it was sent – casually – on a chat app is unconscionable," noted one national security expert.
The incident has led to:
- Postponement of planned Yemen strikes
- Required revision of military operations
- Calls for congressional oversight
- Bipartisan condemnation
Goldberg's statement was brief but pointed: "I was surprised to be added to a group chat clearly not meant for me. I said nothing. But I saw everything. Out of respect for national security, I contacted the proper authorities immediately."
The White House has attempted to downplay the incident as a "miscommunication," but internal sources report widespread panic at the Department of Defense following the discovery of the breach. The incident adds to previous controversies surrounding the Trump administration's handling of classified information, though this marks the first accidental exposure to the press rather than foreign entities.
Former intelligence officials warn that the breach could have compromised both the mission and human lives, with one retired CIA officer describing the incident as "borderline treasonous."