U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard admitted on March 26 that a journalist was mistakenly included in a Signal group chat where senior national security officials discussed military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Speaking before the House Intelligence Committee alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, Gabbard acknowledged the error, stating, “A reporter was inadvertently added to a high-level Signal chat where policy discussions took place regarding imminent strikes and their potential impact.” However, she emphasized that no classified details were disclosed.
She explained that while sensitive discussions are ideally held in person, the urgency of coordinating unclassified matters sometimes necessitates digital communication.
Despite her reassurances, The Atlantic published further excerpts from the chat on the same day, revealing discussions that detailed attack timelines and targets. The group chat reportedly included top officials such as CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and others.
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was among those mistakenly added. He later stated that his inclusion was due to an invitation from National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who took full responsibility for the oversight.
The incident has sparked political backlash, with Democratic lawmakers calling for an inquiry into how sensitive military details were handled. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi criticized the security breach, labeling it a serious mishandling of classified information. “This involves weapons systems, strike sequences, and operational details,” he stated, demanding immediate accountability.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump dismissed the situation as an insignificant “glitch,” claiming he had no prior knowledge of the issue.
