U.S. Officials Face Backlash After Classified Yemen War Plans Leaked to Journalist in Signal Group Chat

A group chat leak involving U.S. officials discussing sensitive military plans for Yemen has sparked calls for accountability within the Trump administration. The incident unfolded when Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported he was accidentally included in a Signal group chat with top Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The chat revealed operational details surrounding impending military actions against the Houthi militia in Yemen, leading to bipartisan outrage.

The group chat, which reportedly included high-ranking officials such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussed critical aspects of the planned attacks just hours before they commenced. Following the leak, President Trump defended Waltz, stating he "has learned a lesson" and labeling the incident as a "glitch" but emphasized no classified information had been disclosed.

Despite assurances from Trump and other officials that the information shared was not classified, critics have raised alarms about the implications of using unsecured messaging platforms for such sensitive discussions. Former national security adviser John Bolton called the incident the "original sin" of the Trump administration, highlighting the potential risks to national security.

Amidst growing scrutiny, Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and top committee members, have demanded investigations into the matter, suggesting the breach denotes a significant failure in operational security practices.

In response to the chaotic backlash, Waltz acknowledged the incident during an interview, stating, "We made a mistake, we’re moving forward." Conversely, he suggested that journalists like Goldberg might intentionally manipulate situations for their narratives, a claim that received backlash from multiple media outlets and public figures.

As the situation develops, many in Washington are watching closely to see how the administration will handle the fallout from what has been termed a major security blunder by both military experts and political leaders.

For more details about this incident, visit NYTimes.