In a significant security breach within the Trump administration, details have surfaced from a leaked chat group on the Signal platform that included key officials like Vice-President JD Vance and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The chat was initiated by journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic magazine and centered on military plans for striking the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen. According to Goldberg, he viewed classified information regarding weapons, targets, and strike timings mere hours before the operations were executed.
Central to the discussion was a disagreement from Vance, who expressed reservations about the strike’s alignment with U.S. interests, suggesting that it predominantly served European economic interests. He stated, "I think we are making a mistake," highlighting the potential backlash of increasing oil prices and the implications of assisting European nations, who he suggested were not adequately investing in their own defense.
As tensions escalated, Vance voiced concerns about President Trump's economic message towards Europe, signaling a divergence in strategies among top officials. He advocated for a month-long delay, although he eventually agreed to support the overarching plan following further discussions with Trump. Notably, Trump's past rhetoric urging European nations to take more responsibility for defense was also at the forefront of the conversation.
The chat highlighted shared frustrations among participants about what they perceived as European "free-loading." Hegseth and another anonymous individual echoed Vance's statements, emphasizing the need for economic benefits in exchange for U.S. military actions.
In a bizarre post-strike exchange, members of the group reacted with emojis reflecting their support for military action, which included prayer emojis and expressions of camaraderie amid the crisis. Nonetheless, tellingly, the group discussions reveal a significant worrying narrative centered around deflecting blame towards President Biden for perceived failures regarding Iran's influence.
The leak has driven Democratic lawmakers to demand an immediate inquiry into the matter, amplifying the scrutiny on National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who was instrumental in adding Goldberg to the group. Waltz, however, has maintained that no sensitive information was disclosed, countering claims that war plans were shared.
In the wake of the leak, President Trump distanced himself from the incident, indicating surprise at the revelations but has continued to support coordinators like Waltz amid calls for transparency and accountability for the serious breach.
