Topline
President Donald Trump attacked the messaging app Signal on Wednesday evening while defending Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s role in reportedly sharing messages—which some Republicans believe contained classified information—with The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, as his administration attempts to downplay the leak.
The Signal encrypted messaging application is seen on a mobile device with an image of Pete Hegseth … More
Timeline
Trump questioned whether the messaging platform Signal could be the cause of the issue, while taking questions from reporters in the White House, saying, “I don’t know that Signal works, I think Signal could be defective to be honest with you … it could be a defective platform, and we’re going to have to figure that out.”
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chair of the Armed Services Committee, and ranking member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., called for the Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General to conduct an expedited investigation into the incident, in a letter to the Trump administration.
Wicker said during a hearing Wednesday the texts made public by the Atlantic on Wednesday are “of such a sensitive nature that, based on my knowledge, I would have wanted it classified,” disputing claims from the White House and top administration officials that the information was not classified.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., also told Axios “the White House is in denial that is was not classified or sensitive data.”
Trump downplayed the incident shortly after The Atlantic published the texts, telling podcaster Vince Coglianese it’s “really not a big deal” and suggesting “maybe [Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey] Goldberg found a way” into the chat or “maybe there’s a staffer” who accidentally admitted him.
Trump administration officials sought to draw a contrast between The Atlantic’s initial characterization of the “war plans” after its headline Wednesday described them as “attack plans.” Vice President JD Vance, who was included in the group, wrote on X that Goldberg “oversold what he had,” while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a screenshot of the headline and wrote “The Atlantic has conceded: these were NOT ‘war plans.’”
The Atlantic published screenshots of the text messages two days after reporting National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added Goldberg to a group chat of top Trump officials Waltz created to discuss the strikes against the Houthis.
The texts revealed detailed attack plans for the strikes launched March 15 that have continued into this week, including precise launch times, descriptions of targets and weaponry—contradicting claims from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Waltz that no “war plans” were discussed.
Among the specificities included in the text messages, Hegseth informed the group “THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger Based’ targets” at 2:15 p.m.
A short time later, Waltz provided an update: “The first target—their top missile guy—we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend’s building and it’s now collapsed,” to which Vance replied “Excellent.”
Here’s What Pete Hegseth Said In War Texts Shared With Atlantic Editor
TEAM UPDATE:
TIME NOW (1144 et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/ CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.
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)
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.
Godspeed to our Warriors.
What Is Opsec?
The acronym for “operational security,” a military term that refers to the security of information and whether it is protected from leaks.
What Did Trump Officials Say About Europe In The Chat?
Vance raised concerns the attacks could be “inconsistent” with the president’s “message on Europe right now” and could lead to a spike in oil prices, writing “I just hate bailing Europe out again.” Hegseth responded: “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.” A Signal user with the initials “SM,” matching those of top Trump aide Stephen Miller, said Trump would “soon make clear to Egypt in Europe what we expect in return.”
Why Did The U.s. Attack The Houthis?
The U.S. intervened as the Houthis have repeatedly attacked U.S. and U.K. vessels in the Red Sea since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. The rebel group, which has been fighting to overthrow the Yemeni government for over a decade, initially said it would attack Israeli-linked ships in solidarity with Palestinians. The strikes against the Houthis are also geared toward tamping down on Iranian aggression, Trump has said, as Tehran is widely believed by U.S. intelligence officials to be backing the rebel group. The March 15 attack reportedly killed at least 53 people and strikes have continued this week, with a U.S. attack Monday in the Yemen capital of Sanaa killing at least one person and injuring 13 others, ABC News reported.
Tangent
Waltz took responsibility for adding Goldberg to the chat in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, contradicting Trump’s claims that a staffer may have added the magazine editor. Waltz suggested Goldberg’s number was saved under a different name in his phone or that Goldberg may have “deliberately” accessed the chat. He also said he doesn’t know Goldberg, who told NBC on Tuesday he met Waltz twice years ago. Trump administration officials are reportedly weighing whether Waltz should resign or be fired over the incident, though Trump has defended him publicly, telling reporters Tuesday Waltz is a “very good man” and “will continue to do a good job.”
Key Background
The embarrassing mishap, widely considered a stunning display of recklessness that could have compromised national security, has dominated headlines in recent days as Trump officials have admitted to the error, but have not explained how Goldberg was added to the group. In addition to Goldberg, the group included 18 top Trump officials, such as Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Further Reading
Trump Orders Military Strikes Against Houthis In Yemen And Threatens Iran (Forbes)
Waltz Says He Doesn’t Know Atlantic Editor He Invited To War Chat—As Trump Defends Aide (Forbes)
Watchdog Sues Trump Officials Over Signal War Plans Chat (Forbes)
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