Meet Jeffrey Goldberg: The Atlantic’s Editor Who Received Trump’s Secret Houthi War Plans

In a shocking security lapse, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top national security officials mistakenly added Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, to an unsecured group chat used for coordinating airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The blunder, which took place last month, appears to have violated multiple federal security protocols.

Goldberg detailed the incident in an article for The Atlantic, writing, "U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn't think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling."

How Did It Happen?

Goldberg was added to the Signal chat-an encrypted messaging app known for its privacy features-by someone posing as Michael Waltz, who served as President Donald Trump's national security adviser. The revelation came in an Atlantic article published on Monday, titled "The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans."

According to Goldberg, the conversation contained detailed operational plans, including:

• Target locations in Yemen
• Types of weapons the U.S. intended to deploy
• The sequence of planned airstrikes

The chat reportedly included high-ranking officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Goldberg claimed that he learned about the airstrikes more than two hours before the government publicly announced them.

A Potential Security Breach

Goldberg cautioned that if an adversary had infiltrated the group, "there's a possibility that the information could have been exploited to endanger American military and intelligence personnel, especially within the Central Command's area of responsibility in the broader Middle East."

The revelation comes after U.S. forces launched a series of strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this month, targeting more than 30 locations over several days. The Houthis, labeled a terrorist organization, have been disrupting international shipping routes for over a year.

National Security Council Responds

The U.S. Defense Department referred inquiries to the National Security Council (NSC), which has since acknowledged the incident. NSC spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the leaked messages and stated that an investigation is underway to determine how an unauthorized number ended up in the chat.

Hughes emphasized that the thread was intended to demonstrate "deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials." However, he assured that no U.S. service members or national security operations were compromised.

Possible Rule Violations

While it remains unclear whether Goldberg was added by mistake or deliberately, officials may have violated regulations concerning:

The sharing of sensitive operational data

The handling of classified military information

Proper record-keeping of government communications

Goldberg also revealed that some officials expressed frustration over Trump's approach to Middle East policy and the lack of European support in the region. Despite concerns about security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly reassured the chat members, stating, "We are currently clean on OPSEC."

Who is Jeffrey Goldberg?

Jeffrey Goldberg is an award-winning journalist and Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic. Before joining the publication, he was a correspondent for The New Yorker, covering Middle East affairs and later political developments in Washington. He has also written extensively for The New York Times Magazine, where he published 15 cover stories.

Goldberg's book Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror reflects his deep interest in international conflicts, diplomacy, and security issues. Over the years, he has received prestigious awards, including the Overseas Press Club Award, the Daniel Pearl Award, and the National Magazine Award for reporting.