Leaking War Plans in a Group Chat? Experts Say That’s a No-Go.
The White House is facing heat after confirming that top Trump officials discussed military plans in a group chat on an unclassified app with a journalist in the mix.
According to The Atlantic, its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally added to a Signal group chat where officials talked about upcoming U.S. strikes on Yemen’s Houthi militants. The chat reportedly included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.
The White House admitted the messages “appear to be authentic” and said they’re looking into how an “inadvertent number” ended up in the thread. Hegseth, meanwhile, brushed off concerns, saying, “Nobody was texting war plans.”
Both sides of the aisle are alarmed. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) wants an investigation, calling it “gross incompetence.” Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) was just as blunt, saying classified info should never be shared on unsecured platforms let alone with reporters.
Bottom line? If you’re in charge of military operations, maybe don’t discuss them in a Signal group chat.
Loose Chats Sink Ships: Why Experts Warn Against Signal for Military Plans
