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A journalist was mistakenly added to a group chat led by America's national security adviser where 'war plans' were being discussed, and this is what has happened so far.
Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to the 18-member group chat on the encrypted Signal app, where he reported seeing officials plan airstrikes in Yemen.
Initially, the US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe denied there being any mention of war plans, and stated that there was 'no classified material' within the chat.
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“There was no classified material that was shared in that Signal group,” Gabbard told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
But The Atlantic has since published screenshots of the group, which including the likes of Vice-President JD Vance, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Who accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat?
Security adviser Mike Waltz said he takes 'full responsibility' after having 'built the group' chat in the first place, however, he said they were looking into how Goldberg's contact was added into the chat.
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"Have you ever had somebody’s contact that shows their name and then you have somebody else’s number there?" he said in a recent interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.
"So, of course I didn’t see this loser in the group. It looked like someone else. Now, whether he did it deliberately or it happened by some other technical means is something we’re trying to figure out."
As for who could have done it, Trump has pointed at 'one of Michael's people on the phone', adding: "A staffer had his number on there."
However, Waltz said that a 'staffer wasn't responsible', once again reiterating that it was his 'full responsibility' (via the BBC).
The Atlantic defended their publication in a statement: “Attempts to disparage and discredit The Atlantic, our editor, and our reporting follow an obvious playbook by elected officials and others in power who are hostile to journalists and the First Amendment rights of all Americans.”
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What was said in the Signal group chat?
Goldberg said he witnessed the Trump administration’s planning of the 15 March airstrikes against the Iran-backed militia Houthis in Yemen.
"Weather is favourable," Hegseth wrote at 11.44am. "Just CONFIRMED w/ CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch."
Soon after, he said a number of F-18 fighter jets would set off to launch a strike on a 'target terrorist'.
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With more jets being dispatched, the Defence Secretary said the drones will be ‘definitely’ dropping bombs.
"I will say a prayer for victory," Vance responded.
Hegseth's full transcript:
“1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)”
“1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME – also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)”
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“1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)”
“1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger Based’ targets)”
“1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.”
“MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)”
“We are currently clean on OPSEC” — that is, operational security.
“Godspeed to our Warriors.”
The National Security Council confirm that the group chat is authentic
National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes told the BBC that the group chat is authentic.
He said: "At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic. We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.
“The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy co-ordination between senior officials.”
What has Donald Trump said about the leaked messages?
When the president was asked about the messages for the first time, he said he was completely unaware.
"I don’t know anything about it. You’re telling me about it for the first time," Trump insisted.
He later defended Waltz, calling him a 'good man', and further claimed that Goldberg's admission into the chat was a 'glitch' that had 'no impact at all' on the operation, the BBC reports.
Trump also later slammed The Atlantic, calling it 'not much of a magazine', before resharing a social media post from Elon Musk which read: "4D Chess: Genius Trump Leaks War Plans to ‘The Atlantic’ Where No One Will Ever See Them."
Topics: US News, Donald Trump, Politics
Anish Vij