President Donald Trump responded Monday to a bombshell report from The Atlantic, saying he knew nothing about a journalist being included in a text chain with defense officials discussing a military operation.
Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported earlier that he was accidentally added to a Signal chat where top officials were discussing plans for an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Goldberg said he realized the chat was legitimate when the details of the plan were carried out just as discussed.
Trump was asked about the report during an event with Louisiana officials at the White House. He quickly denied any knowledge of the situation, criticizing The Atlantic and calling it a magazine that was “going out of business.”
“I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic; to me, it’s a magazine that is going out of business,” Trump said. “I know nothing about it. You’re saying that they had what?”
When a reporter explained that officials were using Signal to communicate about the operation, Trump asked, “having to do with what?” The reporter answered, “the Houthis,” to which Trump responded, “You mean the attack on the Houthis?”
Trump continued, “Well, it couldn’t have been very effective, because the attack was very effective, I can tell you that. I don’t know anything about it. You’re telling me about it for the first time.”
After Goldberg’s report, Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed the authenticity of the text chain and said they were reviewing how Goldberg was added to the group by mistake.
“This appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain,” Hughes said. “The thread is a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials. The ongoing success of the Houthi operation demonstrates that there were no threats to troops or national security.”
Goldberg’s article claimed that national security adviser Mike Waltz reached out to him on Signal on March 11 and then, two days later, Goldberg was added to the “Houthi PC small group” chat, unaware that he had been included.
The White House emphasized Trump’s comments about the success of the strikes on the Houthis when asked about his confidence in Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, following the report.
“As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Hegseth reportedly shared details in the group, including weaponry, targets, and timing, two hours before the March 15 strikes began. Other officials in the group included Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Goldberg’s report included screenshots of the Signal chat, where one account, labeled “JD Vance,” questioned the strikes. “I think we are making a mistake,” the account said. Another message from “Michael Walz” praised the operation, calling it an “amazing job,” with other members congratulating Hegseth. “A good start,” Ratcliffe commented.
Watch the clip below via CSPAN:
President Trump: "I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of The Atlantic, to me it's a magazine that's going out of business. I think it's not much of a magazine…you're telling me about it for the first time." pic.twitter.com/Jd1wG1WzVJ
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 24, 2025
