Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was unexpectedly included in a Signal group where senior U.S. officials discussed military action against Yemen’s Houthis.
On March 11, Goldberg received a Signal request from a user named Michael Waltz—the same name as the White House National Security Advisor. Two days later, he was added to a chat titled “Houthis PC Small Group,” referring to the Principals Committee, a forum for high-ranking officials.
According to Goldberg, the conversation quickly turned into a “fascinating political discussion,” featuring prominent figures such as Vice President Vance, Defense Secretary Hegseth, and Secretary of State Rubio. In one exchange, the account under Vance’s name opposed immediate strikes on the Houthis, arguing they contradicted Trump’s stance on Europe. Hegseth, while agreeing with Vance’s criticism of European allies, still advocated for prompt military action.
On March 15, Hegseth even shared precise details about the upcoming strikes. Initially skeptical, Goldberg realized the discussion was real when the U.S. carried out the attack at the exact time mentioned in the chat.
White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes later confirmed that “this chain of messages appears to be authentic” and announced an investigation into how Goldberg was mistakenly added to the group.
