The White House confirmed Monday that senior Trump administration officials inadvertently added a journalist to a private Signal group chat discussing U.S. military plans, including imminent airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The chat, reportedly titled "Houthi PC Small Group," included high-ranking officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. The group was discussing military action when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, found himself included in the conversation.

Journalist Realized Chat Was Real Only After Strikes Happened

Goldberg initially dismissed the chat as fake, writing in The Atlantic that he couldn’t believe U.S. national security leaders would discuss war plans on an encrypted messaging app. However, when the U.S. carried out airstrikes in Yemen on March 15—hours after the plans were discussed in the chat—he realized the group was legitimate.

"Having come to this realization, one that seemed nearly impossible only hours before, I removed myself from the Signal group," Goldberg wrote.

White House Acknowledges Security Breach

National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told AFP that the chat appeared authentic and that officials were investigating how Goldberg’s number was added.

When asked about his cabinet using Signal for military discussions, former President Donald Trump, now back in office, said, "I don't know anything about it." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later stated that Trump retained "utmost confidence" in his national security team, including Waltz, who seemingly added Goldberg by mistake.

Hegseth denied sharing classified war plans, telling reporters in Hawaii, "Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that." He also attacked Goldberg as a "deceitful" and "discredited so-called journalist," referencing The Atlantic’s critical coverage of Trump.

Democrats Demand Investigations

The breach sparked outrage among Democratic lawmakers, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling for a congressional probe to prevent future leaks.

"If House Republicans won’t hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, I’ll do it my damn self," fumed Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat on the Armed Services Committee.

Senator Elizabeth Warren called the incident "blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief," questioning whether other sensitive discussions were being held on similar platforms.

Vance Criticized for "Bailing Europe Out" Comment

The chat also revealed internal divisions over U.S. military action. A person identified as Vice President Vance expressed frustration over "bailing Europe out again," referencing European allies' reliance on U.S. forces.

A user believed to be Waltz responded that only the U.S. had the capability to execute the mission, while Hegseth reportedly agreed with Vance’s "loathing of European freeloading."

The Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, began attacking Red Sea shipping lanes in solidarity with Hamas after Israel’s war in Gaza began in October 2023. Despite previous U.S. and European strikes, the group has continued its assaults, prompting the latest military response.

The incident raises serious questions about the administration’s handling of classified discussions and internal coordination on national security matters.