Democrats Demand Investigation After Journalist Added to Signal Chat on Yemen Airstrikes

Tensions are rising in Washington following a major national security misstep: a journalist was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat where top U.S. officials discussed classified plans for airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

The incident has sparked calls for investigations and resignations as more details emerge. The thread, created by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, reportedly included Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg says he was inadvertently added to the encrypted group, where he claims members shared information about weapons systems, strike targets, and attack timing just hours before the U.S. carried out military action.

“I take full responsibility,” Waltz said. “I built the group.” He and other officials have insisted no classified material was exchanged. Still, Goldberg disputes that and hinted he may release more of the messages.

At a heated Senate hearing, Ratcliffe and Gabbard denied violating any laws, saying their communications were “permissible and lawful.” But lawmakers were not satisfied.

“This sloppiness, this incompetence, this disrespect for our intelligence agencies is entirely unacceptable,” one Democrat said during the session.

President Trump attempted to downplay the episode, saying the attack itself was “a tremendous success” and that there was “no problem” with the chat.

Still, the implications of a national security leak—accidental or not—are prompting lawmakers to demand a full inquiry into how this could have happened and whether security protocols were breached.

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