Escalating Concerns Over Signal Chat Incident Involving Trump Administration and Military Plans for Yemen
Critics question legality of sharing military plans on Signal after journalist inadvertently joined the discussion, heightening scrutiny over the Espionage Act.
Subscribe to unlock this story
We really don't like cutting you off, but you've reached your monthly limit. At just $3/month or $30/year, subscriptions are how we keep this project going. Start your free 7-day trial today!
Get Started
Signal can’t protect people, even Cabinet members, if they accidentally tell it to message the wrong person.
Signal isn’t infallible, despite being one of the most secure encrypted messaging apps
NBC News·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The report has been harshly criticized, with news outlets like NPR reporting that "a vulnerability" was identified in the messenger application, suggesting Russian professional hacking groups employ devices to spy on encrypted conversations.
Signal says it is 'gold standard' for encrypted messaging, despite claims of vulnerabilities
Fox Business·25d·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.Leans RightThis outlet slightly leans right.
The expansive nature of the Espionage Act -- which Lebovic said could cover essentially any disclosure of information related to national defense to someone unauthorized to receive it -- has resulted in it being relatively rarely used other than in the most egregious cases.
Yemen strike plans in Signal group chat raises questions about Espionage Act. Here's what to know
ABC News·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The group chat furor is a black eye for Trump — but one that will likely clear up soon enough.
How the Signal ‘group chat’ furor has affected the 5 biggest players
The Hill·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.Posting those details to an unclassified app risked tipping off adversaries of the pending attack and could have put U.S. service members at risk, multiple U.S. officials said.
The Signal attack plan messages: What we do (and don't) know
Associated Press·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Signal’s nonprofit structure also sets it apart: The organization doesn’t monetize user data, which reduces incentives for surveillance or advertising-driven features.
U.S. officials used Signal to share war plans. What is the messaging app and is it safe?
Los Angeles Times·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.
The American Oversight suit accuses officials—including Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Gabbard, and others—of violating the Federal Records Act and the Administrative Procedure Act by conducting government business on a platform designed to erase communications.
Trump administration sued over Signal war plans texts: what we know
Newsweek·25d·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.The use of Signal by common targets of surveillance and espionage activity has made the application a high value target to intercept sensitive information.
Veterans are roasting top Trump officials over their Signal group chat
Business Insider·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Yet it tried to shift blame and publicly shrug off one of the most significant blunders in decades.
Trump Goes After the Messenger
The Atlantic·25d·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.
The breach sparked immediate condemnation of the Trump administration from congressional Democrats and raised questions about the use of Signal on government or personal devices, as well as whether top U.S. officials were sharing classified information.
Trump defends national security adviser Mike Waltz amid fallout from Signal texts on Houthi attack
CBS News·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The fallout came after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, alleged that he saw a discussion between Hegseth and other officials take place in a group chat he was added to in the Signal messaging app hours before strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen ordered by Trump earlier this month.
Trump Says Government Likely Won’t Be Using Signal After The Atlantic Fallout
Epoch Times·25d·Mixed ReliableThis source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.RightThis outlet favors right-wing views.
Though Goldberg's inclusion in the chat did not foil the military's plans, the national security breach has still stunned both supporters and critics of the Trump administration.
Trump says Waltz doesn't need to apologize over Signal text chain leak: 'Doing his best'
FOX News·25d·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.Leans RightThis outlet slightly leans right.
Still, the fact is an outsider was privy to discussions about a military strike before it happened, and the breach/glitch/blunder once again raises questions about how top government officials handle the security of their communications.
Trump Team Tunes Out Chatter About Signal Blunder
Bloomberg·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The fact that emojis are now getting shared in conversations about national security among high-ranking officials shows just how mainstream they've become − and how it's ever more important to choose your words, and your emojis, carefully.
The Trump Signal leak, that cringey ‘fire’ emoji and the perils of large group chats
USA TODAY·25d·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
The use of messaging app Signal to discuss a sensitive operation has opened the administration to blistering criticism from Democratic lawmakers who expressed outrage at the White House’s and senior administration officials’ insistence that no classified information was shared.
Trump downplays officials texting military attack plans on Signal as minor 'glitch'
PBS NewsHour·1M·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.Leans LeftThis outlet slightly leans left.
Signal has been growing in popularity in Europe and the United States as an alternative to WhatsApp because it collects very little data about its users.
New York Post·1M·Mostly ReliableThis source is generally reliable but sometimes includes opinion, propaganda, or minor inaccuracies.Leans RightThis outlet slightly leans right.
There's almost no precedent for the heads of Defense, State, Intelligence and National Security to be sharing such sensitive military intelligence in a forum that was known to be unsecured.
Days after the Signal leak, the Pentagon warned the app was the target of hackers
NPR·1M·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
However, Signal could allow government officials to circumvent open records laws and public information requests.
What Is Signal, the App Used to Accidentally Send a Reporter Military Plans?
CNET·1M·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Signal's security features go beyond this.
What is messaging app Signal and how secure is it?
BBC News·1M·ReliableThis source consistently reports facts with minimal bias, demonstrating high-quality journalism and accuracy.CenterThis outlet is balanced or reflects centrist views.
Summary
The Trump administration is under fire after The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally included in a Signal group chat discussing military plans for airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Defense officials, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, downplayed the significance, asserting no classified information was disclosed. Democrats are demanding accountability and have raised concerns about potential violations of the Espionage Act. As a Senate Intelligence Committee investigates, the administration's communication protocols are scrutinized, emphasizing the risks of using commercial apps for sensitive discussions.
Perspectives
The Trump administration's use of Signal to discuss military operations raises potential legal issues, including scrutiny under the Espionage Act.
Questions have been raised about the security of Signal as a platform for discussing sensitive government matters due to concerns over inadvertent disclosures.
The incident underscores the need for clarity in communication protocols, especially regarding what constitutes classified information.
FAQs
No FAQs available for this story.
History
- 25d
- 25d