Washington, D.C. is still grappling with a significant security breach within the Trump administration.
The incident revolves around a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, who was added to a Signal messaging group that seemingly included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The group was discussing military action against the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen.
Goldberg claimed to have seen classified military plans for the strikes—including weapon details, targets, and timing—two hours before the bombs were deployed.
Vance Questions Trump’s Strategy
Goldberg reported that JD Vance, using his account, expressed doubts about the military action, saying, “I think we are making a mistake.” He argued that targeting the Houthi forces threatening ships in the Suez Canal was more beneficial to Europe, due to its higher stake in trade through the canal, rather than to U.S. interests. Vance questioned whether Trump understood how such actions aligned with his stance on Europe, mentioning the risk of a significant spike in oil prices.
While Vance initially opposed the strike, he said he would support the consensus but preferred a delay of a month. His spokesperson later clarified that Trump and Vance had discussed the issue further and were in full agreement. Since assuming office, Trump has been critical of European NATO allies, urging them to increase defense spending and take more responsibility for their own defense.
Blame for Europe’s “Free-Loading”
Despite the push for military action, Vance remained unconvinced. He expressed frustration about continually bailing out Europe, stating, “If you think we should do it, let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.” Hegseth agreed, calling Europe’s defense spending habits “PATHETIC.” Another group member, “SM,” suggested that after the strike, the U.S. should demand economic compensation from Europe and Egypt for restoring freedom of navigation at a significant cost.
Post-Strike Reactions: Emojis and Prayers
Goldberg revealed that after the strike, emojis were used in the group to celebrate. The National Security Adviser posted a fist, American flag, and fire emoji, while Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff responded with a mix of prayer and flexed muscle emojis. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also expressed support. Vance himself offered a prayer for victory, with others chiming in with prayer emojis as well.
Controlling the Narrative: Blame Biden
In response to Vance’s concerns about the message the strike might send regarding Trump’s stance on Europe, Defense Secretary Hegseth wrote:
“VP: I understand your concerns – and fully support you raising w/ POTUS [Trump]. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc).”
He continued, emphasizing the messaging challenge, but suggested the administration should focus on blaming Biden: “Nobody knows who the Houthis are – which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded.”
The Trump administration has frequently criticized Joe Biden for being too lenient on Iran.
Waltz’s Role in the Breach
Goldberg reported that on March 11, he received an unsolicited invitation from an account named Michael Waltz to join the Signal chat. He was added to the conversation about Yemen two days later. Although President Trump wasn’t part of this group, many of his closest advisers were. Goldberg initially suspected the invitation was a hoax, but quickly confirmed its authenticity.
The incident is now increasing pressure on National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, with calls from Democratic lawmakers for an investigation. When asked about the breach, Trump claimed he was unaware of it but continued to support Waltz. Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, also stated that no sensitive information had been leaked, asserting that “nobody was texting war plans.”
