- Calls for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign are growing after he shared operational details of a military strike in a group chat that included a reporter. The group chat on the encrypted app Signal included top cabinet officials who were discussing an attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
- Democrats, including Sen. Mark Kelly, argue that this security lapse puts military members in danger, while Republicans acknowledge the mistake but do not believe it warrants resignation.
- National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that no classified information was shared. However, many Congressional Democrats disagree, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal emphasizing the importance of classifying such sensitive information.
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The calls for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign are growing after it was revealed he shared the exact time, aircraft type and other operational details of a military strike in a group chat that included a reporter.
“This is the evidence that he should have never had this job, and he should resign from this job or be fired,” Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., told reporters. “He is not up to this.”
What was the group chat?
The group chat in the encrypted app Signal was among top cabinet officials, including the vice president, secretary of state and national security adviser. They were debating the foreign policy and political implications of an attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Reporter Jeffrey Goldberg was added inadvertently and released the messages.
Democrats, including former Navy combat pilot Mark Kelly, said this type of security lapse puts military members in danger.
“The Houthis know where the ship is if you know ahead of time that you’ve got this strike package coming your way, and you have an idea about where they might be going,” Kelly said. “That was also in there, by the way, not with latitude and longitude, but maybe enough information that makes it easier for the enemy, the surface-to-air missile operators to shoot down an airplane”.
Republicans admit they made a mistake. However, they contend that it’s not serious enough for those involved to lose their jobs.
“I believe all the participants in the chat were under the impression they were using an appropriate and secure form of communication. This will also fall into the category of ‘lessons learned,’” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement.
When asked if Hegseth should remain on the job, Graham said yes.
How has the White House responded?
The White House is calling the story a hoax and denying the content of the conversation, despite the messages being released.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz posted on X, stating, “No locations. No sources & methods. NO WAR PLANS.”
No locations.
— Mike Waltz (@MikeWaltz47) March 26, 2025
No sources & methods.
NO WAR PLANS.
Foreign partners had already been notified that strikes were imminent.
BOTTOM LINE: President Trump is protecting America and our interests.
The messages show that Secretary Hegseth disclosed the exact time and sequence of the strikes. He also revealed the exact aircraft that would be used and the exact missile type that would be fired from Naval vessels.
Hegseth wrote, F-18s would take off at 12:15 Eastern time as part of an initial strike, followed by more F-18s at 2:10, drones at 2:15 and tomahawks at 3:36.
He closed by writing, “We are currently clean on OPSEC,” which is the acronym for operational security.
“I mean, what’s the objection here, exactly? Is it that they were conversing using a group text, or is it that somebody added a reporter? I mean, adding a reporter, you know, not a great idea, but my understanding is that multiple administrations use group texts and other forms of group communication,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said.
What did officials say during testimony?
In testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reiterated that there was no classified information on the chain.
“No classified information was shared. There were no sources, methods, locations or war plans that were shared,” Gabbard stated.
Many Congressional Democrats disagree.
“If this information doesn’t deserve classification, then the classification means nothing,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. “There is no information more deserving of classification than this kind of top secret advance word about a military mission of high danger.”
The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said he will ask the Trump administration for an inspector general investigation into the matter.
