Leaked Texts Give Rare Glimpse Into Trump Admin at War
Pete Hegseth, 2021. Photo by Gage Skidmore under CC BY-SA 3.0.
They didn't just drop bombs — they dropped them in a group chat with a journalist watching.
In a moment that would be laughable if it weren't so dangerous, senior Trump administration officials accidentally included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in a private Signal group chat where they appeared to be discussing impending U.S. military strikes on Yemen — complete with emojis, strategic details, and real-time praise for successful hits.
The recipient? Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg initially assumed the invite was part of an elaborate hoax. It wasn't. And now, Washington is grappling with what appears to be one of the most careless national security lapses in recent history.
A Group Chat Gone Nuclear
The messaging thread, hosted on Signal — a popular encrypted app — included some of the top names in Trump's national security circle. According to Goldberg, the conversation appeared to involve Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and others — all openly discussing military strike plans on Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, ABC News reports..
The journalist was looped in by someone who claimed to be Waltz and at first thought he was being pranked. But when the messages shifted from speculation to operational logistics — including weapons, targets, timing, and weather conditions — the realization hit. Two hours later, U.S. airstrikes began.
Emojis of War — And the Fallout Begins
The officials didn't stop at strategy. They celebrated the initial attacks with a flurry of emojis. Waltz reportedly replied with a fist, a fire emoji, and the American flag, according to POLITICO. Others chimed in with praise hands and more flags. The casual tone, combined with the content, struck Goldberg as a serious breach of security.
Goldberg said, "Honestly, my reaction was, 'I think I've discovered a massive security breach in the United States national security system,'" as reported by ABC News.
The National Security Council confirmed the group chat "appears to be authentic," according to the Associated Press.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes shared with ABC News that officials are reviewing how Goldberg's number ended up in the thread.
Text Reveal Internal Debate
The texts weren't just celebratory. They revealed strategic disagreements among Trump's top brass. JD Vance warned that bombing could trigger oil price hikes. He even questioned whether Trump himself fully grasped the implications of the mission.
"We are making a mistake," Vance said, as reported by POLITICO. "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," he said. "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."
MAGA Hawks vs. Euro Whiners
Despite Vance's initial concerns about straining transatlantic relations, he ultimately agreed with Hegseth.
"If you think we should do it let's go. I just hate bailing Europe out again," Vance said in a back-and-forth with Hegseth, as reported by the Associated Press. "I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC," Hegseth replied.
Dems Meltdown Over Signal Slip-Up
The revelations sparked condemnation from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called it "one of the most stunning breaches of military intelligence I have read about in a very, very long time," as reported by The Guardian.
Delaware senator Chris Coons said that the officials involved "have now committed a crime – even if accidentally... We can't trust anyone in this dangerous administration to keep Americans safe," as reported by The Guardian.
Even Hillary Clinton — whose use of a private email server during her time at the State Department was a major flashpoint in 2016 — weighed in. Her reaction on X? "You have got to be kidding me," as reported by ABC News.
Trump Pleads Ignorance, Then Cracks Jokes
President Trump, when asked about the incident, said, "I don't know anything about it. You're telling me about it for the first time," as reported by the Associated Press. He added that The Atlantic was "not much of a magazine."
Later that evening, he was mocking the situation on social media, reposting a meme from Elon Musk: "4D Chess: Genius Trump Leaks War Plans to 'The Atlantic' Where No One Will Ever See Them," the Associated Press reports.
Meanwhile, Hegseth went on the defensive. He denied that war plans were discussed, calling Goldberg "a deceitful and highly discredited, so-called journalist who's made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again," as reported by ABC News. He added, "This is the guy that pedals in garbage. This is what he does."
How Does This Even Happen?
The question now dominating Washington: How did one of America's most high-level war planning sessions take place over a third-party messaging app — and include a journalist?
Signal is encrypted and more secure than standard texts, but it is not an official communications platform for military planning. The app is used by some officials for quick pings or logistical coordination, but not for operational details. It is not government-approved for classified material.
Yet here we are — with messages about weapon systems and Houthi target locations sent over Signal, complete with emoji reactions and policy spats in real time.
The National Security Council has launched an internal review. Some members of Congress are calling for public hearings. And as of now, no one has resigned or been removed.
Heads May Still Roll
Speaker Mike Johnson has so far defended the officials involved, saying, "I think it would be a terrible mistake for there to be adverse consequences on any of the people that were involved in that call... They were trying to do a good job, the mission was accomplished with precision," as reported by the Associated Press.
But others might not be so quick to let this go. If even a portion of what was shared turns out to be classified, the Espionage Act could come into play — a century-old law that makes it a crime to mishandle national defense information, even through gross negligence.
That's the part no one in the White House seems to be joking about.
What Happens Now?
This story is still unfolding, but it's already clear that the fallout will stretch far beyond a single "oops."
Whether the inclusion of a journalist was a fluke or a symptom of deeper dysfunction, the Signal chat fiasco has cracked open serious questions about how this administration handles national security — and who, if anyone, is keeping things in check.
With investigations looming and pressure mounting from both parties, one thing is certain: This wasn't just a glitch. It was a warning — that in Washington the lines between power, policy, and basic operational competence may be far blurrier than anyone imagined.
References: Messages with Yemen war plans inadvertently shared with reporter appears 'authentic': Official | 5 revelations from the Trump administration's war plan texts | Trump officials texted attack plans to a group chat in a secure app that included a journalist | Outrage after White House accidentally texts journalist war plans: 'Huge screw-up' | Trump's shocking military plan leak epitomizes a sloppy operation
