On March 24, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, published a leaked transcript from a group chat involving U.S. national security leaders, revealing sensitive military details about planned operations against the Houthis in Yemen. This leak has sparked significant concerns about U.S. security practices and its potential impact on international relations.
The US Group Chat Leak: A Critical Security Blunder
Between March 11 and 15, 2025, several high-ranking U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, White House staff Cabinet secretaries, and Intelligence Community directors, used insecure communication channels to discuss upcoming military operations on the Signal messaging app.
The conversation was then compromised when Goldberg was mistakenly added to the group chat, and as a result, sensitive information was exposed.
The chat contained critical details, such as, launch times for air strikes, as well as the identity of an active undercover CIA officer. Moreover, Goldberg subsequently published a redacted version of the chat on March 24, thereby making these details publicly available.
Accountability and Denial of the leak
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who admitted to adding Goldberg to the group, took full responsibility for the incident. In an interview with Fox News, Waltz expressed regret, stating, “It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”, further emphasizing that the mistake was his alone, stressing that it was not due to a staffer’s actions.
In contrast, President Trump downplayed the significance of the leak. In a phone interview with NBC, Trump defended Waltz. He called the incident a “glitch” and suggesting that it had “no impact at all” on the operation. Additionally U.S. intelligence leaders, including National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, denied that any classified information was shared during the chat at a Senate hearing.
The European Reaction
European security officials responded cautiously to the news. Although reactions across Europe varied, many acknowledged the incident’s impact. Furthermore, because of the shared sentiment among group members feeling tired of “bailing out” Europe transatlantic relations continue to deteriorate.
Sources :
Trump’s national security team’s chat app leak stuns Washington
How Europeans are reacting to the U.S. intelligence group chat leak : NPR
Trump and intelligence chiefs play down Signal group chat leak
Jeffrey Goldberg on the Group Chat That Broke the Internet – The Atlantic