By Charles Switzer
1:33am PDT, Mar 26, 2025
Jeffrey Goldberg Accidentally Added to Security Chat
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of
The Atlantic, revealed on Monday, March 24, that he was mistakenly included in a Signal group chat involving top
Donald Trump administration officials — among them Vice President
J.D. Vance and Secretary of Defense
Pete Hegseth.
The group was discussing potential military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen in early March. The encrypted chat, sent in the days before the U.S. launched air and naval operations on March 15, reportedly came his way after National Security Advisor
Michael Waltz added him by mistake.
Goldberg recounted, "I also could not believe that the national security adviser to the president would be so reckless as to include the editor-in-chief of
The Atlantic in such discussions with senior U.S. officials, up to and including the vice president."
Here's what happened.
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Internal Debate Over Houthi Strikes
The messages revealed intense debate within the administration over whether to proceed with strikes on the Houthis immediately or to wait. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed early hesitation, writing, "I think we are making a mistake."
He voiced concern about public understanding and economic fallout: "I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices." Still, he added, "I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc."
Hegseth and Vance Exchange Views
Pete Hegseth supported J.D. Vance's concerns and emphasized messaging would be a challenge, stating, "I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what — nobody knows who the Houthis are, which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1.
Biden failed and 2. Iran funded."
Later, Vance agreed to move forward, stating, "If you think we should do it let's go. I just hate bailing Europe out again."
In a reply that captured the mood of many in the conversation, Hegseth responded, "I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC."
White House Defends National Security Team
Once the group chat's existence was revealed, the Donald Trump White House acknowledged the mistake. Jeffrey Goldberg initially thought the messages could be a targeted hoax due to, in his words, the administration's "contentious
relationship with journalists," but ultimately concluded it was an error.
National Security Council spokesperson
Brian Hughes confirmed, "This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain."
He further observed, "The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security."
Trump and Musk Respond to the Leak
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, found humor in the situation. After
Elon Musk mocked
The Atlantic, Trump reposted his comment: "Best place to hide a dead body is page 2 of
The Atlantic magazine, because no one ever goes there," Musk wrote on X.
Musk also shared a Babylon Bee headline that read, "4D Chess: Genius Trump Leaks War Plans To
The Atlantic Where No One Will Ever See Them."
Despite the leak, the Trump administration stood by its national security leadership.
Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt stated that the president continues to trust his advisers, saying, "As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz."
