Gabbard Admits Signal Text Chain ‘Mistake’ in Heated Hearing/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard admitted Wednesday it was a “mistake” to include a journalist in a Signal chat discussing sensitive military strikes in Yemen. Lawmakers slammed top Trump officials over the breach, calling for resignations and raising concerns that the leaked details endangered national security and U.S. personnel.
Signal Breach Fallout + Quick Look
- What Happened: Military strike details were shared on a Signal group chat that included a journalist.
- Key Officials Involved: Gabbard, CIA Director Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Hegseth, VP JD Vance.
- Journalist Added: Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who later published the texts.
- Democratic Reaction: Demands for Defense Secretary Hegseth to resign; calls for DOJ investigation.
- Gabbard’s Statement: Acknowledged the chat was a “mistake” but denied classified info was shared.
- Trump’s View: Called the leak a minor “glitch,” defended his team.
- Ongoing Review: National Security Council is investigating how the breach occurred.
- Context: The incident overshadows a hearing meant to focus on global threats.
Gabbard Admits Signal Text Chain ‘Mistake’ in Heated Hearing
Deep Look
Intelligence Hearing Eclipsed by Signal App Leak That Sparked National Security Concerns
What was supposed to be a routine briefing on global threats turned into a political firestorm on Capitol Hill, as Trump administration officials defended their handling of sensitive military information accidentally shared with a journalist.
Appearing before the House Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard described the decision to discuss airstrikes on an unsecured group chat app as a “mistake.” She acknowledged that the Signal thread included “candid and sensitive” information related to U.S. military strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen, but insisted that no classified material was revealed.
The controversy erupted after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed he had been inadvertently added to a Signal group chat that included Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Goldberg published the chat logs Wednesday, revealing specific operational timelines and weapons systems. The leak infuriated Democrats, who argued the messages met the threshold of classified intelligence and could have endangered military personnel.
“This is classified information. It’s a weapon system, as well as a sequence of strikes,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), calling for Hegseth’s resignation.
Gabbard, however, maintained that classification decisions rest with the Department of Defense and that the “mistake” was the addition of a reporter — not the use of Signal itself. Ratcliffe defended the use of the app, stating:
“What is most important is that the mission was a remarkable success. That’s what did happen, not what possibly could have happened.”
The exchange became tense when Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) questioned whether alcohol had impaired Hegseth’s judgment during the chat, prompting a sharp rebuke from Ratcliffe.
Behind the theatrics lies a serious breach of protocol. The National Security Council has launched a formal review, while Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee are pressing for a Justice Department investigation into how a journalist ended up privy to live military updates.
The hearing also took place amid Trump’s broader national security efforts, including a push for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire and ongoing operations against international drug cartels and human trafficking.
While the intelligence report listed China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as top strategic threats, much of the discussion was drowned out by the fallout from the Signal scandal — with lawmakers demanding accountability and warning of graver consequences if security norms continue to erode.
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