The US Government faced questions on Monday after it was revealed that a journalist was accidentally added to a private group chat discussing war plans.
On Monday, The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg made the bombshell claim that he had received a connection request on the encrypted messaging service Signal on March 11, from someone identified as 'Michael Waltz'.
He accepted the request despite being skeptical whether it was the real Michael Waltz, and was then added to a group called 'Houthi PC small group' which had 18 members.
These included 'MAR' who he believed was secretary of state Marco Antonio Rubio, 'JD Vance', 'TG' who he believed was Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, 'Pete Hegseth', and 'Scott B', who he believed was Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Other members have been reported as Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff, 'SM' who Goldberg took to stand for Stephen Miller the deputy White House chief of staff, Steve Witkoff, the US Middle East and Ukraine negotiator, as well as various National Security Council officials and a CIA official who was not named because they are an active intelligence officer.
Details of the messages shared in the group were revealed by The Atlantic, with the group having discussed policy as well as explicit operational details of forthcoming strikes on Yemen, including subsequent airstrikes on Houthi militants.
Goldberg was added on March 13, when Waltz messaged the group to say: "Team - establishing a principles [sic] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours.
"My deputy Alex Wong is pulling together a tiger team at deputies/agency Chief of Staff level following up from the meeting in the Sit Room this morning for action items and will be sending that out later this evening."
He added: "Pls provide the best staff POC from your team for us to coordinate with over the next couple days and over the weekend. Thx."
Rubio responded a minute later: "Mike Needham for State," seemingly designating the current counselor of the state department as his representative.
Vance added: "Andy baker for VP," while Gabbard wrote: "Joe Kent for DNI."
Bessent wrote: "Dan Katz for Treasury," Hegseth added: "Dan Caldwell for DoD," and a user called "Brian" added: "Brian McCormack for NSC." 'John Ratcliffe' then wrote the name of a CIA official to be added to the group.
On March 14, Waltz told the group: "Team, you should have a statement of conclusions with taskings per the Presidents [sic] guidance this morning in your high side inboxes.
"State and DOD [Department of Defence], we developed suggested notification lists for regional Allies and partners. Joint Staff is sending this am [morning] a more specific sequence of events in the coming days and we will work w DOD to ensure COS [chief of staff], OVP [office of the vice president] and POTUS [president of the United States] are briefed."
Goldberg says this then began a "fascinating" policy discussion in which Vance wrote: "Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake. 3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does.
"There is a real risk that the public doesn't understand this or why it's necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.
"I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There's a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices.
"I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc."
Hegseth then replied: "VP: I understand your concerns - and fully support you raising w/ POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc).
"I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what - nobody knows who the Houthis are - which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded.
"Waiting a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus. 2 immediate risks on waiting: 1) this leaks, and we look indecisive; 2) Israel takes an action first - or Gaza cease fire falls apart - and we don't get to start this on our own terms. We can manage both.
"We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should. This [is] not about the Houthis. I see it as two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish deterrence, which Biden cratered. But, we can easily pause. And if we do, I will do all we can to enforce 100% OPSEC - operations security. I welcome other thoughts."
Later, Waltz criticized the limited capabilities of European navies, adding: "Whether it's now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president's request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans."
Vance then told Hegseth: "If you think we should do it let's go. I just hate bailing Europe out again."
Hegseth responded: "VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It's PATHETIC.
"But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close.
"Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space."
An account believed to be the deputy White House chief of staff, Stephen Miller, then responded: "As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.
"We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesn't remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return."
Hegseth concurred, replying: "Agree."
On Saturday, March 15, Hegseth posted a "team update", but The Atlantic did not reveal what was said.
Goldberg explained the decision to redact certain information, writing in his article: "I will not quote from this update, or from certain other subsequent texts.
"The information contained in them, if they had been read by an adversary of the United States, could conceivably have been used to harm American military and intelligence personnel, particularly in the broader Middle East, Central Command's area of responsibility."
He did reveal, however, that Hegseth had sent a lengthy message about how the first detonation in Yemen would take place in two hours' time, and Goldberg revealed that he waited in his car in a grocery store parking lot to see if Houthi targets were indeed bombed.
A search on X revealed reports of explosions being heard across Sanaa, the capital city of Yemen.
Goldberg added that the only person to respond to Hegeth's message was Vance, who wrote: "I will say a prayer for victory", along with two prayer emojis.
Waltz then provided an update in the group which Goldberg mainly redacted, but said he described the operation as an "amazing job", to which Ratcliffe replied: "A good start."
Goldberg says Waltz then replied with three emojis - a raised fist, the American flag, and a fire emoji.
Rubio then replied: "Good Job Pete and your team!!," while Wiles added: "Kudos to all - most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless."
Witkoff also replied with two prayer hands emojis, a flexed bicep, and two American flags, while Gabbard wrote: "Great work and effects!"
Goldberg said the discussion afterward included assessments of the damage and the likely death of a specific unnamed individual.