Pete Hegseth denies ’texting war plans’ after Yemen strike chat on Signal gets leaked

efense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied allegations that top US officials discussed war plans on a Signal messaging group. Speaking to reporters in Hawaii on Monday evening, Hegseth responded to The Atlantic’s report that its editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, had been inadvertently included in a chat where internal deliberations on airstrikes against Houthi targets were allegedly shared.

“Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that,” Hegseth stated, in his first public remarks since the controversy surfaced.

Criticism of Jeffrey Goldberg

Hegseth took aim at Goldberg, calling him a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.”

“So this is a guy that peddles in garbage, this is what he does,” the Pentagon chief continued, refuting claims that confidential military strategies were openly discussed on the encrypted platform.

Details of the Signal Group

Jeffrey Goldberg, in a report published by The Atlantic, stated that he was unexpectedly added to a Signal group chat named “Houthi PC small group” two days before the Yemen strikes. According to Goldberg, the group included Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and other senior Trump administration officials.

Goldberg reported that internal deliberations and operational details regarding airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were exchanged in the chat. The airstrikes were executed on March 15.

National Security Council response

After exiting the chat, Goldberg said he reached out for confirmation if he was added to the chat group. Goldberg stated that National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes responded, saying, "This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain."

The controversy has sparked concerns about operational security and the handling of sensitive military discussions within the administration.