Top Trump Officials Under Fire Following Signal Chat War Plans Leak

Washington D.C. – A significant national security breach has rocked the Trump administration, as sensitive details regarding U.S. military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen were reportedly discussed on an unclassified Signal group chat that inadvertently included a journalist. The revelations, first reported by The Atlantic, have sparked widespread condemnation from Democrats and raised serious questions about the handling of classified information and inter-agency communication protocols. The tweet from "car leak" stating, "коли дві служби проводять спільну операцію" (when two services conduct a joint operation), succinctly captures the essence of the multi-agency involvement leading to this security lapse.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz are at the center of the controversy. According to The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, who was accidentally added to the chat by Mr. Waltz, Mr. Hegseth discussed "specific operational details just hours before U.S. troops began attacking the Houthi militia in Yemen," including timing, targets, and weapons systems. The group chat reportedly involved 18 individuals, including Vice President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Democrats in Congress have swiftly called for resignations and investigations. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged President Trump to immediately fire Secretary Hegseth, stating he "recklessly and casually disclosed highly sensitive war plans." Senator Mark Warner, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the "sloppy, careless, incompetent behavior" displayed by officials using an unsecure commercial messaging app for such critical discussions. The watchdog group American Oversight has filed a lawsuit seeking to preserve the Signal messages, which have an auto-delete function.

President Trump has downplayed the incident, asserting that no classified information was shared and defending his officials. Mr. Waltz publicly accepted responsibility for inadvertently adding the journalist but maintained he did not personally know or communicate with Mr. Goldberg. Critics, including former national security officials, argue that any operational detail, regardless of formal classification, could be damaging, potentially violating the 1917 Espionage Act.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns about secure communication within government agencies and the potential vulnerabilities when high-level officials utilize unclassified platforms for sensitive discussions. The fallout continues as lawmakers debate the severity of the breach and the necessary steps to prevent future occurrences.