Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied allegations of discussing military plans on Signal after a leak involving The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg. He criticized Goldberg’s integrity and emphasized that no war plans were exchanged. The incident has raised concerns over operational security regarding military communications.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has refuted allegations that senior U.S. officials discussed military strategies on a Signal messaging group. During a press briefing in Hawaii, Hegseth addressed The Atlantic’s report, which noted that editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg inadvertently joined a chat discussing airstrikes against Houthi targets, asserting, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.”

Hegseth criticized Goldberg, labeling him as a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist,” asserting that claims of confidential military discussions taking place on the secure app were inaccurate. He stated, “So this is a guy that peddles in garbage, this is what he does.”

The Atlantic’s Goldberg revealed that he was added to a Signal group named “Houthi PC small group” two days prior to U.S. airstrikes, which were conducted on March 15. The group consisted of Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and other prominent figures from the Trump administration.

Following his removal from the group chat, Goldberg sought confirmation regarding his addition, to which the National Security Council’s Brian Hughes responded that the message chain appeared authentic and was under review for how an incorrect number was added.

In summary, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vehemently denied claims of discussing military strategies on a private Signal chat following the leak of sensitive information related to airstrikes in Yemen. He criticized the journalist involved, stating that the claims were misleading and characterized as unfounded. The incident has raised significant concerns regarding the security surrounding military discussions.

Original Source: www.livemint.com

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