Trump administration officials say the Atlantic “accepted” that it did not include a “war plan” in an article that provides a direct explanation of a signal group chat involving the nation's top security leaders discussing attacks on Yemeni terrorists.
“The Atlantic confirmed. These were not 'war plans,'” White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt posted on X Wednesday morning. “This whole story was another hoax written by the Trump hater, famous for his sensational spin.”
“There is no place, no sources and no way. There is no war plan. Foreign partners have already been notified of an imminent strike,” National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on Wednesday.
Trump officials accidentally text Atlantic journalists about military strikes in obvious security breaches
National Security Advisors Mike Waltz and President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
The Trump administration fired fire from Democrats and other critics on Monday after the Atlantic Magazine released an article revealing it had discussed a planned strike against Yemeni terrorists in a signal group chat that included Atlantic editors.
Jeffrey Goldberg of Atlantic announced her in-person account on Monday, which she read through a signal group chat called “Houthi PC Small Group.”
“The Trump administration accidentally texted its war plan,” according to a post on Monday.
Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic has published an article that he was misinformed in a Trump administration group chat debating plans for the White House to attack Hooty militants in Yemen. (Reuters)
Trump administration officials have repeatedly argued since the release of the article that it has not included information classified as signal-enabled.
On Wednesday morning, the Atlantic published a follow-up story that contained direct text from a signal chat, but characterized the text as an “attack plan” especially as it did not include the phrase “war plan” in its headline. The phrase “war planning” was included in Wednesday's work as a quote stemming from the management of pouring cold water that shares information classified in chat.
Hegseth dodges the reporter's question about signal chat leaks: “I know exactly what I'm doing.”
A spokesman for the Atlantic defended the outlet's release of a “war plan” in a report on Wednesday, pointing to FOX News Digital to a screenshot included in Hegzes' messages relating to the F-18 and drone strike, accompanied by timestamps for operation.
“If this information, especially the exact time that American aircraft were taking off for Yemen – fell into the wrong hands during that important two-hour period, American pilots and other American staff could have been at even greater risk than they normally faced,” the report said.
According to the U.S. Army War College, the Department of Defense does not specifically define what constitutes a “war plan,” but war plans are understood as detailed plans for a “comprehensive strategy.”
According to the U.S. Army War College, the Department of Defense does not specifically define what constitutes a “war plan.” (Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images)
“If war is considered to be a political act between two or more states, countries, or other politics, war plans must consider the overall potential political objectives, industrial capabilities, and military options of these politics, for the expected period of conflict,” the Army War College was posted in an explanatory article in 2020.
“War planning develops concepts for winning wars military and politically. It is a detailed method and means of comprehensive strategies. A review of two historical examples of such planning provides an approach to overcoming the organizational and institutional obstacles to effective comprehensive war plans.”
Trump administration officials continued with X that the Atlantic report was the “horror” to first describe chats as “a war plan.”
“So, let's straighten this. The Atlantic has released so-called “war plans” and those “no plans”: no target. There is no place. No units. No route. There is no source of information. There's no way. Traveling through the Indo-Pakom region, meeting commanders (the one who makes actual “war plans”), we continue our work, but the media does its best.
A Pentagon memo from 2023 under the Biden administration detailed that while signals have been approved for some use by government officials, the platform cannot be used to “access, transmit and process private DOD information.”
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau, responsible for ensuring cybersecurity at all levels of government, issued a “best practice” in December 2024, advising “highly targeted” government officials to “highly targeted” government officials to use signals as a special precaution against potential hackers.
CISA's “Mobile Communication Best Practice Guidance” is defined as a highly targeted individual as a high-ranking government Official or politician Who is “highly likely has information of interest to these threat actors.” The document noted that the guide was “applicable to all viewers,” but specifically addressed high-target politicians and officials.
“We employ free messaging applications for secure communications, such as signals and similar apps, to ensure end-to-end encryption,” the guidance states. “CISA recommends end-to-end encrypted messaging apps that are compatible with both iPhone and Android operating systems, allowing text messaging interoperability across platforms. Such apps may offer clients for MacO, Windows, Linux and sometimes web. Images that can enhance privacy.”
Signal's popularity has increased in the past few months after it was discovered that China-linked hackers were targeting US mobile phone data, including data belonging to the president. Donald Trump Vice President JD Vance, Politico, who is currently in the campaign, reported Tuesday.
Trump doesn't plan to fire Waltz after leaking the national security text chain
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is scheduled to hold a press conference on March 26th, 2025. (AP)
Texts published in the Atlantic article show the military and national security leaders on Wednesday discussing the timing of the attack on Yemen's Houtis.
Biden-era guidance encouraged the use of signal apps by highly targeted government officials: “Best Practices”
“1215et: F-18S launch (1st strike package),” Hegseth said in one message.
“1345: The 'trigger-based' F-18 1st strike window begins (the target terrorist is @ his known location so it should be on time.
President Donald Trump told NBC News that staff from the office of national security adviser Mike Waltz included journalists in the high-profile group chat. (Evan Vucci/AP)
Trump told NBC News Tuesday that staff at Waltz's office included journalists in the highly-profile group chat but did not reveal the identity of the staff or whether individuals would face disciplinary action.
Trump Team Signal Snaff discusses secure communications: “Russia and China are listening”
“It was one of Michael's people over the phone. The staff had a number there.” Trump told NBC News When asked in a phone interview how Goldberg was added to the hotly-held chat.
Trump defended Waltz in his comments on Fox News earlier Tuesday, during an interview with him on NBC.
“He's not fired,” Trump told Fox News in Waltz.
The president said the incident was “mistake,” but said there was “nothing important” in the signal text thread.
“Michael Waltz learned the lesson and he's a good guy,” Trump told NBC in an interview.
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The president added that Goldberg's participation in group chats “has no effect on the Yemen strike at all.”
