Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has addressed accusations that he was involved in ‘texting US war plans’ within a group chat to which a journalist was inadvertently added.
Atlantic magazine’s editor-in-chief published a startling article, alleging his accidental addition to a Signal group chat where US officials reportedly discussed strategic plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
According to the article, Goldberg received a connection request from an individual he thought might be White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, although he was skeptical that it was the genuine Michael Waltz.
Within the group chat, Goldberg claims he saw sensitive US military strategies, detailing ‘targets and weapons the U.S. would be employing’ just hours before the operations took place.
Upon arriving in Hawaii on March 25, Hegseth criticized the journalist, stating: “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.”
When asked for further details, Hegseth commented: “Nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say.”
Despite Hegseth’s refutation, National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes acknowledged that the leaked messages seemed ‘authentic.’
“At this time, the message thread that was reported appears to be authentic. We are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” he informed the BBC.
“The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy co-ordination between senior officials.”
It is believed that several high-ranking officials from the Trump administration were part of the group chat, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. President Donald Trump claims he had no knowledge of the situation.
Goldberg responded to Hegseth’s remarks, calling them a ‘lie’.
“He was texting war plans. He was texting attack plans. When targets were going to be targeted. How they were going to be targeted. Who was at the targets. When the next sequence of attacks were happening,” he told CNN, noting that he refrained from publishing the plans “because it felt like it was too confidential.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released a statement in light of the event.
The statement read: “The attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective.
“President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.”