In a shocking turn of events, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, found himself inadvertently added to a top-secret White House chat discussing military plans. The group, consisting of 18 high-ranking officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, was meant to be highly confidential. However, Goldberg’s unexpected inclusion sparked a heated response from Hegseth.
Hegseth swiftly attacked Goldberg’s journalistic credibility, labeling him a “highly discredited so-called journalist.” The Defense Secretary’s remarks came after Goldberg revealed the shocking breach, detailing how National Security Adviser Mike Waltz initiated the conversation on the encrypted messaging app, Signal. Hegseth denied sharing war plans in the group, instead shifting focus to Goldberg’s reporting, which he deemed “garbage.”
The Pentagon and White House were quick to respond, with a Pentagon spokesman directing inquiries back to Hegseth’s remarks. President Trump, when questioned about the breach, claimed ignorance but took the opportunity to criticize The Atlantic as a “magazine that is going out of business.”
Pete Hegseth, when asked about the monumental fuck up of including the editor of the Atlantic in a top secret chat room, elects to attack The Atlantic, instead of answering the question.
Absolutely disqualifying and makes him sound imbecilic.
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Turnbull (@cturnbull1968) March 24, 2025
The incident has sparked outrage among lawmakers and experts, with Sen. Jack Reed condemning it as a “stunning and dangerous” lapse in operational security. Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Roger Wicker announced that his panel would investigate the matter, acknowledging that “mistakes were made.”
Goldberg, in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, vehemently disputed Hegseth’s claims, stating that the Defense Secretary had indeed shared war plans in the chat. Goldberg expressed “real anxiety and anger” over the sloppiness of those involved, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the potential risks to American lives.
As the scandal continues to unfold, questions remain about how such a serious lapse in security could occur and whether anyone will be held accountable for this explosive mistake. The fallout from this incident could be far-reaching, especially with Trump’s team already on the defensive.
