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DONALD Trump's secret Houthi attack plans have been leaked after a journalist was mistakenly added to a private government group chat.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of the Atlantic magazine, revealed he was included in a messaging chain alongside Trump's vice president JD Vance in the incredible security blunder.

President Donald Trump wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat and headset.
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Trump was seen giving orders to bomb the Houthi terror group on a golfing tripCredit: Reuters
USS Gettysburg firing a cruise missile at night.
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A cruise missile being fired from the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) at sea during operations against Yemen’s Houthis earlier this monthCredit: AFP
Photo of Pete Hegseth speaking to reporters.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was said to be in the chatCredit: AFP
Vice President JD Vance speaking at the American Dynamism Summit.
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Trump's vice president JD Vance was also included in the incredible security blunderCredit: Reuters

Several other senior members of the Trump administration were also included such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz.

The leak is a fresh embarrassment for Trump, who told reporters Monday he hadn’t seen the article and dismissed The Atlantic as “a magazine that’s going out of business.”

The messages are said to have discussed the strikes against the Houthi terror group in Yemen, with further bombshell claims that Hegseth ripped into America's European allies, calling them "pathetic free-loaders".

In the first comments since the blunder, the Defense Secretary was adamant that no sensitive "war plans" were being discussed in the chat.

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He told on Monday: “Nobody was texting war plans and that’s all I have to say about that.”

On March 15, Trump ordered the massive attack on Houthi rebels in a stark warning to the militants and their Iranian backers.

The US president ordered the series of airstrikes on capital Sanaa in response to the terror group’s attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was aware of the plans as he published an article today headlined: "The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.”

In the story, Goldberg claimed he spoke with Waltz on the Signal messaging app on March 11.

Days later he was invited to join a chain called the "Houthi PC small group".

Houthis vow to strike ANY US ships as Trump begins ‘unrelenting’ barrage

Signal is a private messaging app which is often used to keep texts private and untraceable.

Goldberg claimed that when he was added into the chat he was given the callsign "JG".

He believes this may have been down to Waltz mistaking his number for Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, due to the initials.

On March 13, Waltz messaged those in the chat and asked them to provide him with the best point of contact from their team who would be able to help with the coming weekend. 

Illustration of text messages discussing bailing out Europe.
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A representation of what the messages looked like in the chat
Illustration of text messages praising a team's work.
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The chat was named Houthi PC small group, containing numerous members of Trump's top team

Goldberg then revealed a text from Waltz at 8:05am a day later which read: "Team, you should have a statement of conclusions with tasking per the Presidents [sic] guidance this morning in your high side inboxes."

High side refers to the US government's classified computer systems.

JD Vance is then said to have messaged the group saying: "I think we are making a mistake."

He added: "[Three] percent of US trade runs through the [Suez Canal]. 40 percent of European trade does.

"There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message."

Hegseth replied: "I understand your concerns."

Before arguing “messaging is going to be tough no matter what - nobody knows who the Houthis are".

Jeffrey Goldberg and Anna Deavere Smith speaking on stage.
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Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of the Atlantic magazine, revealed he was included in a messaging chainCredit: Getty
People gather at the site of U.S. strikes in Sanaa, Yemen, March 20, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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People gather at the site of the US strikes in Yemen

Vance then appeared to accept the Pentagon chief's argument as he wrote: "If you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again."

Then an account believed to belong to Stephen Miller said: "As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return."

Following the strikes, an account said the operation was an “amazing job”.

Others messages congratulated Hegseth for the good work as another said it was a “good start", according to screenshots.

Goldberg left the group after the strikes had taken place before reaching out to officials including Waltz and Hegseth.

National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes told The New York Post the Signal chain that included Goldberg “appears to be an authentic message chain".

He added that they are now reviewing how Goldberg's number was added to the chain.

President Trump has also since responded and claimed he knew nothing about the report from Goldberg.

He blasted The Atlantic as he told reporters today: "I don’t know anything about it.

"I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic; to me it’s a magazine that is going out of business.

"I don’t know anything about it. You’re telling me about it for the first time."

It comes as Democratic senator Ruben Gallego described the security blunder as: "Amateur hour".

Donald Trump at a White House press briefing.
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Trump said he didn't know anything about the group chat and leaked messagesCredit: X / CSPAN2
Man in blue blazer being interviewed near an airplane.
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Pete Hegseth said no sensitive 'war plans' were being discussed in the chatCredit: Fox News

'Pathetic free-loaders'

Trump's top team has launched an astonishing broadside against America's European Allies - branding them "pathetic free-loaders" in leaked messages mistakenly sent to a journalist.

The private Signal chat, used as a virtual war room by Trump’s national security heavyweights, was accidentally shared with Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who published the explosive texts.

In the exchange, Vice President JD Vance grumbled: “I just hate bailing Europe out again.”

Trump’s defence secretary Pete Hegseth replied: “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.”

The disclosure reveals the degree of contempt within the Trump administration for Europe's contribution to global defense, with Ukraine at the centre of escalating transatlantic tensions.

Other messages saw officials wrangle over US strikes against Houthis in Yemen, with Vance warning they risked clashing with Trump’s hardline stance on Europe.

“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” he wrote.

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“There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices.”

Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz, who reportedly added Goldberg to the chat, is now facing the sack - with one insider telling :  “Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a f***ing idiot.”

Three men in suits laughing together.
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Vance and Pete Hegseth appeared to disgaree over the strikesCredit: Reuters
People surveying damage to a building after an airstrike in Sana'a, Yemen.
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Further US strikes have left Yemen covered in rubble in recent daysCredit: EPA
Aircraft launching from aircraft carrier.
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A US aircraft launching from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen earlier this monthCredit: AP