White House in Crisis After Journalist Accidentally Added to Group Chat on Yemen Strikes
Key Points:
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A serious security breach occurred when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to an insecure group chat where senior US officials discussed military strikes in Yemen.
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The group included Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, among others.
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Goldberg gained access to classified information, including attack timing, weapons details, and targets, hours before the strikes took place.
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The White House confirmed the leak, stating it was under review, while Trump distanced himself, claiming ignorance of the situation.
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Hegseth dismissed concerns, denying that “war plans” were being shared, despite evidence to the contrary.
Political Fallout:
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The leak has sparked outrage among Democrats and even concerns from some Republicans.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it one of the most alarming breaches of military intelligence in recent history.
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Hillary Clinton responded sarcastically on social media, highlighting Trump’s past attacks on her for using a private email server.
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Internal messages from the chat revealed anti-European sentiments from key officials, with concerns about “free-loading” allies and calls for economic benefits in return for US military intervention.
Context & Implications:
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The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have disrupted global trade by targeting Red Sea shipping in response to the Gaza conflict.
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The US has been conducting airstrikes against the Houthis under both the Biden and Trump administrations.
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Trump has promised to escalate military action, declaring he will use “overwhelming lethal force” to neutralize Houthi threats.
This highly embarrassing security lapse has raised serious concerns about the Trump administration’s handling of sensitive intelligence. It could have endangered US operations had the journalist leaked the details before the attack. The political backlash will likely fuel further criticism of Trump’s national security team, while the administration attempts to contain the damage.
