The Atlantic magazine Wednesday published excerpts of plans for American attacks on Houthi rebels that were shared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a Signal group chat as outrage about the leak continued to grow.
While the House of Representatives prepared to grill intelligence officials, editor Jeffrey Goldberg published details about the successful March 15 strike in Yemen that Hegseth shared in the group chat, to which the veteran journalist was mistakenly given access.
The Atlantic said it was baring the details, which included times of the attacks, targets, and weapons used, because the Trump administration claimed none of the information revealed in the Signal chat was classified.
“People should see the texts in order to reach their own conclusions,” Goldberg wrote. “There is a clear public interest in disclosing the sort of information that Trump advisers included in nonsecure communications channels, especially because senior administration figures are attempting to downplay the significance of the messages that were shared.”
The White House again sought to downplay the shocking scandal.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Atlantic’s description of the military details as “attack plans” and not “war plans” undercuts the veracity of Goldberg’s reporting.
“This entire story was another hoax written by a Trump-hater who is well-known for his sensationalist spin,” Leavitt tweeted.
Vice President J.D. Vance chimed in that Goldberg “oversold” the story, a flabbergasting claim given that the leak is already being described as one of the most significant national security
The damage control unfolded as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe underwent a second day of grilling in Capitol Hill about the leaked group chat.
“It’s by the awesome grace of God that we are not mourning dead pilots right now,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-Connecticut), the committee chairman.