WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Trump administration on Monday confirmed to The National News Desk (TNND) it accidentally texted sensitive information about the United States’ war plans to a civilian journalist.
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, claimed in a bombshell report he had been added to a group chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal that included members named “JD Vance,” “Pete Hegseth” and “Michael Waltz.” The members of that chat reportedly discussed plans to attack the Houthi terrorist group, which began attacking Israeli ships over the Jewish State’s war with Hamas.
“I had very strong doubts that this text group was real, because I could not believe that the national-security leadership of the United States would communicate on Signal about imminent war plans,” Goldberg wrote. “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.”
He continued by saying that the ensuing Signal texts “could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command’s area of responsibility” had they been read by a foreign adversary.
Goldberg wrote the use of a Signal chat to discuss such sensitive matters may violate the Espionage Act. Waltz had also set some messages in the chat to disappear after one or four weeks, potentially violating other federal laws, he added.
Democrats quickly seized on the report. The party’s official X account shared a mocking gif of a woman using a smartphone with the caption “The Trump admin making their war plans.”
Also reacting was Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz who wrote “Pete Hegseth texting out war plans like invites to a frat party.”
“This is an outrageous national security breach and heads should roll,” Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., fumed via X. “We need a full investigation and hearing into this on the House Armed Services Committee, ASAP.”
“Every single one of the government officials on this text chain have now committed a crime – even if accidentally,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., added. “We can’t trust anyone in this dangerous administration to keep Americans safe.”
The National Security Council confirmed the validity of the texts shared by Goldberg in a statement to The National News Desk.
This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” the statement reads. “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.
When reached for comment by TNND, The White House said Vice President JD Vance prioritizes awareness of discussions between cabinet advisors.
“The Vice President’s first priority is always making sure that the President’s advisers are adequately briefing him on the substance of their internal deliberations,” the statement reads. “Vice President Vance unequivocally supports this administration’s foreign policy. The President and the Vice President have had subsequent conversations about this matter and are in complete agreement.”
President Donald Trump on Monday addressed the report during a press conference and expressed skepticism of the publication’s reporting.
“I don’t know anything about it,” Trump said. “I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me it’s a magazine that’s going out of business. I think its not much of a magazine. But I know nothing about it. You’re saying that they had what?”
“I don’t know anything about it,” he added. “You’re telling me about it for the first time.”
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