Trump administration officials make shocking mistake by sharing military plans with journalist
In a shocking lapse of security, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump made a critical error by inadvertently adding a journalist to a private group chat discussing highly classified military plans regarding airstrikes on the Houthi armed group in Yemen. This blunder, which involved several senior officials, has raised serious concerns about national security protocols and the handling of sensitive military operatio
The incident came to light when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, discovered he had been mistakenly included in a Signal messaging group named “Houthi PC Small Group.” The chat reportedly consisted of 18 high-ranking Trump administration officials who were actively coordinating military strategies, including planned strikes on Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen.
According to The Guardian, this group included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The officials were using Signal, a widely used encrypted messaging app, to discuss classified plans. However, Signal is not an approved platform for sharing sensitive government information, making the mistake even more egregious.
Upon realizing he had been mistakenly included in the confidential chat, Goldberg reportedly took immediate action. In his report, he stated that he quickly deleted sensitive information, including details about a CIA officer and ongoing military operations, to prevent the exposure of critical intelligence.
A White House spokesperson, Brian Hughes, later confirmed the authenticity of the messages and acknowledged the error. “This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are currently reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the group,” Hughes told The Guardian.
Despite the glaring mistake, Hughes defended the Trump administration’s officials, insisting that the messages demonstrated “deep and thoughtful policy coordination” and that the military operation itself was ultimately a success.
When confronted about the security breach, former President Donald Trump brushed off the incident, telling reporters, “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic.” His dismissive tone did little to address concerns about how such a major mistake occurred within his administration.
Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement in an attempt to reassure the public, asserting that Trump still had “the utmost confidence” in his national security team despite the blunder.
Beyond the security breach itself, the leaked messages provided rare insight into the administration’s internal discussions on military strategy and foreign policy.
According to The Guardian, Vice President JD Vance expressed frustration over the United States shouldering the burden of global security. He reportedly wrote, “I just hate bailing Europe out again.” This comment reflected ongoing tensions within the administration regarding the role of the U.S. in international conflicts, particularly when European allies fail to contribute proportionally to military efforts.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly agreed with Vance, criticizing Europe’s reliance on U.S. military power. He allegedly called it “pathetic,” underscoring a sentiment that had been frequently echoed by Trump himself during his presidency.
The revelation of the security breach sparked an immediate and intense backlash from both lawmakers and national security experts.
Democratic Representative Pat Ryan, a former military officer, was particularly enraged, calling the situation “FUBAR”—a military slang term for something that is completely messed up beyond repair.
Ryan demanded urgent action, warning that if House Republicans failed to investigate the matter promptly, he would take it upon himself. “If House Republicans won’t hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, I’ll do it my damn self,” he declared.
Shane Harris, a veteran national security journalist, also expressed his astonishment at the incident. “In 25 years of covering national security, I’ve never seen a story like this,” he remarked, highlighting just how unprecedented the blunder was.
As the controversy continues to unfold, the White House is under increasing pressure to explain how such a major security lapse occurred—and, more importantly, whether similar mistakes have happened before or could happen again in the future.
The incident has reignited debates about cybersecurity and the use of unofficial communication platforms like Signal for discussing highly classified government matters. Many experts are now calling for stricter oversight of digital communication within the highest levels of government to prevent further breaches.
With security protocols in question and political tensions rising, this blunder serves as a stark reminder of the immense responsibility that comes with handling sensitive national security information—and the potentially disastrous consequences of even the smallest mistake.
