The US has been left reeling aftein a "huge intelligence security failure".

In an unthinkable blunder, - where plans were being made to pummel Yemen's Houthi rebels - was exposed to editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Magazine Jeffrey Goldberg. The journalist was added to Trump's national security team group on Signal, where reams of highly-classified information were being shared.

Among the top were Vice President , Defence Secretary , Secretary of State , National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles and national security advisor Mike Waltz.

On Thursday March 13, Goldberg received a notification from asking him if he wanted to join the "Houthi PC small group" on Signal. A subsequent message, again from Waltz, read: “Team – establishing a principles [ sic ] group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours.

"My deputy Alex Wong is pulling together a tiger team at deputies/agency Chief of Staff level following up from the meeting in the Sit Room this morning for action items and will be sending that out later this evening.

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“Pls provide the best staff POC from your team for us to coordinate with over the next couple days and over the weekend. Thx.” Next up, a person identified as "MAR", thought to be Secretary of State Marco Antonio Rubio, chimed in, saying: "Mike Needham for State." This was him designating Mike Needham as his representative for the committee. Then the other officials followed suit.

"JD VANCE" said "Andy baker for VP", "TG" or Tulsi Gabbard wrote “Joe Kent for DNI”. Scott Bessent recommended Dan Katz before a user called Pete Hegseth wrote "Dan Caldwell for DoD". A short while later, an account called "Brian" wrote "Brian McCormack for NSC."

On the Friday morning, Michael Waltz texted the group, saying: "Team, you should have a statement of conclusions with taskings per the Presidents guidance this morning in your high side inboxes.” The Atlantic noted that "High side" refers to classified computer systems used by the government.

He added: “State and DOD, we developed suggested notification lists for regional Allies and partners. Joint Staff is sending this am a more specific sequence of events in the coming days and we will work w DOD to ensure COS, OVP and POTUS are briefed.” JD Vance then said: “Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake.”

“3 percent of US trade runs through the suez. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.”

“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.”

"Joe Kent", thought to be Trump's nominee for the National Counterterrorism Center, then wrote: "There is nothing time sensitive driving the time line. We’ll have the exact same options in a month.”

A short while later, "John Ratcliffe" chimed in with information that was not published as it was linked to current intelligence operations. The Pete Hegseth account responded: “VP: I understand your concerns – and fully support you raising w/ POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, peace, Gaza, etc). I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what – nobody knows who the Houthis are – which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded.”

The Hegseth message continues: “Waiting a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus. 2 immediate risks on waiting: 1) this leaks, and we look indecisive; 2) takes an action first – or Gaza cease fire falls apart – and we don’t get to start this on our own terms.

"We can manage both. We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should. This [is] not about the Houthis. I see it as two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish deterrence, which Biden cratered. But, we can easily pause. And if we do, I will do all we can to enforce 100% OPSEC”—operations security. “I welcome other thoughts.”

Michael Waltz then posted details of trade numbers, and limitations of naval forces in Europe. He said: “Whether it’s now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president’s request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.”

The "JD Vance" account then sent a message to @Pete Hegseth saying: "If you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.” The Pete Hegseth account then blasted Europe, claiming that the US' closest allies weren't paying their way. He said: “VP: I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.

"But Mike is correct, we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this. Nobody else even close. Question is timing. I feel like now is as good a time as any, given POTUS directive to reopen shipping lanes. I think we should go; but POTUS still retains 24 hours of decision space.”

S M, who is suspected to be Trump's confidant Stephen Miller, then wrote: “As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesn’t remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return.”

The final text came from Hegseth, with a simple one word response, saying: "Agree".