Inside The Signal Slip: Trump Advisers’ Messaging Mishap And The Secret Yemen Strike Revealed

This week, a stunning national security breach rocked Washington — exposing how some of President Donald Trump’s closest advisers inadvertently leaked sensitive, strike-specific battle plans via the encrypted app Signal, ahead of a major military assault on Yemen. The extraordinary episode has inflamed concerns about operational secrecy, legal compliance and the Trump administration’s communications culture at the highest levels of government.

The bizarre saga began when Trump’s national security adviser Michael Waltz created a Signal chat titled the “Houthi PC small group” to coordinate an imminent air campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi militia. Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the secret group — providing a front-row seat to America’s war planning, complete with granular details on takeoff times, weapon payloads, target windows, and intelligence updates.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at 11:44 a.m. texted: "TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch." He typed out a cascading strike schedule, including F-18 launches, drone deployments, a missile strike timing, even noting the Houthi commander’s whereabouts. Goldberg received this information more than two hours ahead of the first bombs falling — an intelligence gift that, in enemy hands, experts warn, could have compromised pilots’ lives and U.S. operational surprise.

When confronted with the breach, the administration scrambled into damage control. Secretary Hegseth brusquely denied any exchange of war plans, while the CIA Director John Ratcliffe, DNI chief Tulsi Gabbard and President Trump insisted “nothing classified” was shared. Yet, The Atlantic underscored these claims clash with the raw transcripts — which include pinpoint operational updates that traditionally would be tightly classified.

The internal deliberations revealed sharp policy debates. Vice President J.D. Vance argued for a pause, fearing economic fallout and a “bailout for Europe,” while Hegseth pushed action to restore shipping freedom and U.S. deterrence. National security figures lobbed real-time updates as the attack unfolded, with Waltz celebrating “multiple positive ID” on their top missile target and visuals of collapsing buildings in Sanaa. The Signal thread chronicled prayers, emojis of fists and flags, and self-congratulation, even as Yemeni sources reported dozens dead.

Amidst explosive media coverage, President Trump publicly defended Waltz as a "good man." Privately, however, he reportedly fumed over Waltz’s "reckless" contact with Goldberg, asking confidantes, “Should I fire him?” The president’s frustration seemed less about breach risks, and more about Waltz possessing Goldberg’s number at all — suggesting a volatile mix of loyalty politics and turmoil behind closed doors.

Experts say the episode exposes profound vulnerabilities. Legal scholars warn national defense secrets apparently traversed an unauthorized, disappearing-message chat, raising violations of the Espionage Act and the Federal Records Act — potential grounds for disciplinary or criminal review. The mistaken inclusion of a journalist transformed this into an accidental leak of wartime intelligence, broadcast beyond official circles.

Ironically, Trump’s White House once excoriated Hillary Clinton’s private email practices and staged fierce rhetoric on safeguarding secrets. Now, his own Cabinet-level aides appear to have normalized risky side-channel apps for real-time war planning — culminating in an extraordinary intelligence breach hiding in plain sight.

Ultimately, this messaging mishap unveils much more than sloppy tech hygiene. It reveals a chaotic, insular decision culture that prioritized rapid coordination over prudence, and political optics over airtight secrecy. It has ignited fundamental questions: How is sensitive information handled now? Will accountability follow? Or has modern national security slipped irretrievably into the encrypted shadows?

What do you think about high-level officials using apps like Signal for critical military communication? Should there be more accountability? Join the discussion below with your thoughts.

• Michael Waltz
• Pete Hegseth
• Yemen strike

Related issues news

What is a signal chat group?

Signal is an encrypted service for text messaging, but it can also handle phone and video calls, making it a versatile app for talking on a secure channel with others. Up to 1,000 people can join a group chat, and messages can be set to disappear after a period of time.

What is a signal leak?

Signal leakage refers to the loss or egress of radio frequency (RF) signals from a cable system when they are not properly contained. This can result from a multitude of causes but is generally the result of shielding defects within the cable network.

Who is Michael Waltz?

He was the first Army Special Forces soldier to be elected to Congress. Waltz received four Bronze Stars while serving in the Special Forces during multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa.

What is a signal group?

A Signal group is built on top of the private group system technology. The Signal service has no record of your group memberships, group titles, group avatars, or group attributes. Group features include: Invite via a group link or QR-code. Mentions.