Skip to content

Read the messages Trump officials exchanged on leaked Signal thread

US President Donald Trump's national security team faces scandal after a reporter was mistakenly added to a messaging group in which senior officials discussed attack plans on the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen.

Trump and his team have continued to insist that "classified" information was not shared in the Signal group chat that included the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg.

The conversation, which The Atlantic first published on Wednesday, shows behind-the-scene discussions between Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz just hours before the attack was launched.

The chat also includes Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard (TG), her acting chief of staff Joe Kent, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller (S M), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (MAR), Ukraine and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and other senior officials.

You can read the full message thread below.

A BBC-produced photo illustration of what was said in the Signal Group chat that included multiple senior national security officials from the Trump administration. They used the Signal platform to host a group chat to discuss attack plans on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. In this first image messages from the chat on the Signal platform can be seen. It is named "Houthi PC small group" and it's retention timer is set to one week. It reads that there are 19 members and the receipient - The Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg - has been added "to the group" by Michael Waltz, Trump's national security adviser. Then the messages are seen. They read as follows: Michael Waltz (4:28 PM): Team- establishing a principles 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. Pls provide the best staff POC from your team for us to coordinate with over the next couple days and over the weekend. Thx. MAR (4:29 PM): Mike Needham for State JD Vance (4:29 PM): Andy baker for VP TG (4:30 PM): Joe Kent for DNI Scott B (4:39 PM): Dan Katz for Treasury Pete Hegseth (4:53 PM): Dan Caldwell for DoD Brian (6:34 PM): Brian McCormack for NSC
A BBC-produced photo illustration of what was said in the Signal Group chat that included multiple senior national security officials from the Trump administration. They used the Signal platform to host a group chat to discuss attack plans on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. In this second image further messages from the chat on the Signal platform can be seen. They read as follows: Michael Waltz (8:05 AM): Team, you should have a statement of conclusions with tasking per the Presidents guidance this morning in your high side inboxes. 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 (8:16 AM): 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. But 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 delaing this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc. Joe Kent (8:22 AM): There is nothing time sensitive driving the time line. We'll have the exact same options in a month. The Israelis will likely take strikes & therefore ask us for more support to replenish whatever they use against the Houthis. But that's a minor factor. I will send you the unclass data we pulled on BAM shipping. John Ratcliffe (8:26 AM): From CIA perspective, we are mobilizing assets to support now but a delay would not negatively impact us and additional time would be used to identify to identify bettter starting points for coverage on Houthi leadership
A BBC-produced photo illustration of what was said in the Signal Group chat that included multiple senior national security officials from the Trump administration. They used the Signal platform to host a group chat to discuss attack plans on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. In this third image further messages from the chat on the Signal platform can be seen. They read as follows: Pete Hegseth (8:27 AM): 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, Ukraine 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. 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) Israel 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 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. I welcome other thoughts. Michael Waltz (8:32 AM): The trade figures we have are 15% of global and 30% of container. It's difficult to break that down to US. Specific because much of the container either going through the red sea still or around the Cape of Good Hope our components going to Europe that turns into manufacturing goods for transatlantic trade to the United States. Whether we pull the plug or not today European navies do not have the capability to defend against the types of sophisticated, antiship, cruise missiles, and drones the Houthis are now using. So 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.
A BBC-produced photo illustration of what was said in the Signal Group chat that included multiple senior national security officials from the Trump administration. They used the Signal platform to host a group chat to discuss attack plans on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. In this fourth image further messages from the chat on the Signal platform can be seen. They read as follows: Michael Waltz (8:42 AM): As we stated in the in the first PC we have a fundamental decision of allowing the sea lanes to remain closed or to re-open them now or later, we are the only ones with the capability unfortuantely. From a messaging standpoint we absolutely ad this to of horribles on why the Europeans must invest in their defense. JD Vance (8:45 AM): @Pete Hegseth if you think we should do it let's go. I just hate bailing Europe out again. Let's just make sure our messaging is tight here. And if there are things we can do upfront to minimize risk to Saudi oil facilities we should do it. Pete Hegseth (8:49 AM) 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 (9:35 AM): 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. Pete Hegseth (9:46 AM): Agree Pete Hegseth (11:44 AM): TEAM UPDATE: TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/ CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch. 1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 1345: "Trigger Based" F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME) - also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) 1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package) 1415: Stirke Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier "Trigger Based" targets) 1536: F-18 2nd Strike Starts - also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched. MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline) We are currently clean on OPSEC. Godspeed to our Warriors. JD Vance (12:13 PM): I will say a prayer for victory
A BBC-produced photo illustration of what was said in the Signal Group chat that included multiple senior national security officials from the Trump administration. They used the Signal platform to host a group chat to discuss attack plans on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. In this fifth and final image further messages from the chat on the Signal platform can be seen. They read as follows: Michael Waltz (1:48 PM): VP. building collapsed. Had multiple positive ID. Pete, Kurilla, the IC, amazing job. JD Vance (1:54 PM): What? Michael Waltz (2:00 PM) Typing too fast. The first target - their top missile guy - we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend's building and it's now collapsed. JD Vance (2:01 PM): Excellent John Ratcliffe (2:36 PM): A good start Michael Waltz (time unclear): (sends emojis of a fist, American flag and fire) MAR (5:14 PM): Good Job Pete and our team!! Michael Waltz (5:15 PM): The team in MAL did a great job as well. S M (5:18 PM): Great work all. Powerful start. Pete Hegseth (5:20 PM): CENTCOM was/is on point. Great job all. More strikes ongoing for hours tonight, and will provide full initial report tomorrow. But on time, on target, and good readouts so far. Susie Wiles (5:21 PM): Kudos to all - most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless. Steve Witkoff (5:47 PM): (sends two prayer hands emojis, a flexing arm emoji, and two American flag emojis) TG (6:35 PM): Great work and effects!