A recent article by Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic, titled “I Was Accidentally Added to a Chat of High-Ranking Officials Discussing US Military Plans”, has caused a stir in the US government. According to the article, Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was mistakenly added to a Signal chat group where high-ranking officials, including US Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, discussed military operations against the Huthi rebels in Yemen.
The incident came to light after The Atlantic published the article on Monday. Goldberg’s article details how he was added to the chat group, which had been discussing possible US military operations against the Huthi for several days before President Donald Trump ordered the strikes on March 15. Goldberg writes that he was informed of the impending attack two hours before the first bombs were dropped, as he had received a text message from Hegseth containing the plan, including the timing and targets of the operation.
In response to the article, Hegseth, the US Defense Minister, has called Goldberg a “sneaky” and downplayed the significance of the incident. The article also quotes other officials, including National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes, who confirmed the authenticity of the chat thread and said an internal review was underway to determine how Goldberg was added to the group.
Goldberg’s article provides a detailed account of the chat conversation, which he describes as a “fascinating political discussion” in which high-ranking US officials acknowledged that it was currently difficult to gain public support for a new military operation. “There is a real risk that the public does not understand or will not understand why it is necessary” said Vice President JD Vance, arguing that the main reason for the operation was to send a message, as stated by Trump.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Huthi attacks are sponsored by Iran and that the US will hold Iran responsible for any future Huthi attacks. The Huthi group, officially known as Ansar Allah, has controlled large parts of Yemen since the mid-2010s, including the capital, Sanaa.
Goldberg’s article includes screenshots of the chat conversation, which show the discussion and messages exchanged between the officials. The article also quotes Goldberg’s email to Waltz, in which he asked for an explanation of the incident and whether the “Houthi PC small group” was a real Signal thread. Brian Hughes, the NSC spokesperson, responded two hours later, confirming the authenticity of the chat thread.