NBC News logo
Fox Business logo
ABC News logo
36 articles
·3M

Escalating Concerns Over Signal Chat Incident Involving Trump Administration and Military Plans for Yemen

Critics question legality of sharing military plans on Signal after journalist inadvertently joined the discussion, heightening scrutiny over the Espionage Act.

Overview

A summary of the key points of this story verified across multiple sources.

The Trump administration is under fire after The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally included in a Signal group chat discussing military plans for airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Defense officials, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, downplayed the significance, asserting no classified information was disclosed. Democrats are demanding accountability and have raised concerns about potential violations of the Espionage Act. As a Senate Intelligence Committee investigates, the administration's communication protocols are scrutinized, emphasizing the risks of using commercial apps for sensitive discussions.

Content generated by AI—learn more or report issue.

Pano Newsletter

Get both sides in 5 minutes with our daily newsletter.

Analysis

Compare how each side frames the story — including which facts they emphasize or leave out.

  • The Trump administration's use of Signal to discuss military operations raises potential legal issues, including scrutiny under the Espionage Act.
  • Questions have been raised about the security of Signal as a platform for discussing sensitive government matters due to concerns over inadvertent disclosures.
  • The incident underscores the need for clarity in communication protocols, especially regarding what constitutes classified information.

Articles (36)

Compare how different news outlets are covering this story.

Center (27)

No highlight available for this article.

Trump Team Tunes Out Chatter About Signal Blunder
BloombergBloomberg·3M·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

No highlight available for this article.

What is messaging app Signal and how secure is it?
BBC NewsBBC News·3M·
Center
This outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.

FAQ

Dig deeper on this story with frequently asked questions.

The Signal group chat included discussions about military operations, such as targets, weapons packages, and timing for airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. However, officials like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that 'war plans' were discussed in detail, despite reports indicating operational details were shared.

Jeffrey Goldberg was added to the Signal group chat by an account purporting to belong to National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. Goldberg initially thought the invitation might be a spoof but realized it was real when the attack on Houthi targets occurred as described in the chat.

President Trump downplayed the incident as a 'glitch,' stating that no classified information was compromised. He questioned the security of Signal but acknowledged it may still be used for speed over safety in certain situations.

The Trump administration is reviewing how Goldberg was added to the chat, while critics, including Congressional Democrats, are calling for an investigation into the security breach and the appropriateness of using Signal for sensitive communications.

History

See how this story has evolved over time.

  • 3M
    The Hill logo
    ABC News logo
    CBS News logo
    4 articles
  • 3M
    PBS NewsHour logo
    CBS News logo
    USA TODAY logo
    6 articles