WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite the evidence revealed by The Atlantic regarding the details of the plans for the attack against the Houthis in Yemen in a Signal group chat, the Donald Trump administration has decided to cling to the weak script that such information “was not secret.”
The decision to determine whether the information is secret falls on the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who precisely in the chat listed weapons systems and a timeline for the attack. “This is the moment when the first bombs will definitely fall,” he wrote. The Houthis have wreaked havoc on the crucial Red Sea shipping lanes since November 2023 while Israel and Hamas were facing off.
Senior officials try to stick to the narrative and attack the journalist
In addition to insisting that no secret material was discussed in the Signal chat from March 13 to 15, high-ranking White House officials have chosen to launch scathing attacks against Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic who was included in the chat and published the full content of the conversation.
Hegseth, the official most affected by this scandal as he published specific details of the attack, such as the schedule and objectives, said in a post on the social network X that these were the characteristics of the message chain: “No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no secret information”. He did not directly address the Democrats’ concerns about the timing and weaponry details included in the chat.
He also added that “this only proves one thing: Jeff Goldberg has never seen a war plan or an ‘attack plan’ (as he now calls it). Not even close.”
Michael Waltz, the National Security Advisor who included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in the messaging group, also said on Elon Musk’s social network that “foreign partners had already been notified that the attacks were imminent. Conclusion: President Trump is protecting the United States and our interests.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that having a journalist in a group chat on Signal with the most important officials of Trump was a “big mistake”. But he indicated that he has been assured that the shared information did not threaten the operation or the lives of the military personnel.
During her press conference at the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the chat was “a discussion about politics, surely a discussion about delicate politics, among high-ranking cabinet officials and senior staff.”
Barraged with questions about how the government can come to the conclusion that no secret information was shared, considering that the chat discussed launch times and weapon systems, Leavitt said it is up to the public to decide who to trust. “Do you trust the Secretary of Defense, who was nominated for this role, who has served in combat, has served honorably to our nation in uniform, or do you trust Jeffrey Goldberg?” she asked.
Trump’s statements are not consistent with those of his officials
While the President of the United States chose to support Michael Waltz, his recent statements have not directly followed the same line as the rest of the officials who have tried to downplay the gravity of the unusual war plans leaks.
Karoline Leavitt stated that Signal was an “approved application” used by several national security agencies, “because it is the most secure and efficient way to communicate.”
However, Trump has clearly specified his preference in these days for his team to discuss such operations in person and in safer environments. “To be honest, I think Signal could have flaws,” Trump said on Wednesday at the White House.
In turn, when asked if the information revealed by Hegsteh was classified, Trump reacted particularly evasively: “That’s what I’ve heard. I don’t know. I’m not sure, you have to ask the different people involved.”
Attacks by the Democrats are increasing
Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that the position the Trump administration is taking can be described with one word: “Nonsense.”
“When you describe the time, place, and type of weaponry used: Do you think the American public is stupid?” Warner expressed to journalists.
Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, indicated that he and Senator Jack Reed, the committee’s top Democrat, will send a letter to the Trump administration to request an expedited investigation by the inspector general into the use of Signal.
They are also requesting a secret briefing with a high-ranking government official “who really has the facts and can speak on behalf of the government.”
“The information, as recently published, seems to me of such a delicate nature that, based on my knowledge, I would have wanted it to be kept secret,” declared Wicker.
Several Democrats from the House Intelligence Committee called for Peye Hegseth to resign on Wednesday.
“This is classified information. It’s a weapons system, as well as an attack sequence, and also details of the operations,” declared Democratic representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a member of the committee. “He needs to resign immediately.”