Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has forcefully denied allegations that he texted classified war plans to a group chat that accidentally included Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
The denial came after Goldberg published an article claiming he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat where Trump administration officials discussed plans for military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Why It Matters
This apparent security breach has caused intense bipartisan concern and scrutiny in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties calling for immediate investigations.
The incident raises serious questions about operational security within the highest levels of the national security apparatus, potentially compromising sensitive military operations.
Reporter: Can you share how your information about war plans was shared with a journalist? Hegseth: So you are talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who has made a profession of peddling hoaxes pic.twitter.com/JXegFXbdpP
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 24, 2025
What To Know
According to The Atlantic’s report, Goldberg was added to a Signal group chat called “Houthi PC small group” that included high-ranking officials such as National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Hegseth. The chat reportedly contained specific operational details about planned strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Hegseth made his denial while in Hawaii, where he is conducting official business including meetings with civilian and military leaders at Indo-Pacific Command. His itinerary includes touring U.S. military installations in Guam, receiving briefings on operational capabilities, and continuing on to the Philippines and Japan.
The National Security Council (NSC) has confirmed the authenticity of the message chain, stating it “appears to be authentic” and that they are “reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain.”
What People Are Saying
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the texts to reporters: “You’re talking about a deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist who’s made a profession of peddling hoaxes time and time again…This is a guy who peddles in garbage…Nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say.”
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic responded to Hegseth during a MSNBC interview: “The Secretary of Defense seems like a person who is unserious and is trying to deflect from the fact that he participated in a conversation on an unclassified messaging app that he probably shouldn’t have participated in.”
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the NSC, confirmed the veracity of the group text to Goldberg: “This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain. The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.”
Former CIA Director Leon Panetta called it: “A very serious mistake” that “could violate the espionage laws, but more importantly, could undermine our national security.”
President Donald Trump claimed no knowledge of the incident, stating: “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business. But I know nothing about it. You’re saying that they had what?”
Representative Pat Ryan, a Democrat from New York who sits on the Armed Services Committee, wrote in a social media post: “If House Republicans won’t hold a hearing on how this happened IMMEDIATELY, I’ll do it my damn self.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson to reporters on Monday after news of the messages spread: “I just was with the president in the Oval Office just now. The administration is addressing what happened. Apparently, an inadvertent phone number made it onto that thread. They are going to track that down and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
What Happens Next
Despite the controversy, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated no changes are expected to the president’s national security team, noting that “President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team.”
Update 03/24/25 8:40 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
The post Pete Hegseth Denies Texting War Plans to Journalist appeared first on Newsweek.
