DONALD TRUMP’S defence chief “shared top secret war plans” in another Signal group chat with his wife and brother in a major security breach.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is said to have shared bombshell information on forthcoming US air strikes on Yemen in the private group, reports claim.
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It would mark the second time Hegseth has been accused of sharing top-secret military information on the messaging app with unauthorized personnel.
Last month, Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of the Atlantic magazine, revealed he was included in a messaging chain alongside Trump’s vice president JD Vance in the incredible security blunder.
Several other senior members of the Trump administration were also included such as Hegseth and national security adviser Mike Waltz.
The messages were said to have discussed the strikes against the Houthi terror group in Yemen, with further bombshell claims that Hegseth ripped into America’s European allies, calling them “pathetic free-loaders”.
Now, on Sunday, the New York Times reported that the Defence Sec discussed top-secret information on the same March 15 strikes with the second Signal chat.
The bombshell intel shared “included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen,” the newspaper reported.
It said that, unlike the accidental leak where journalist Goldberg was mistakenly included in the group, the chat was actually created by Hegseth.
Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said: “It included his wife and about a dozen other people from his personal and professional inner circle in January, before his confirmation as defense secretary.”
Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer, is a former Fox News producer and journalist.
The group also included his brother Phil and Tim Parlatore, both of who work different roles at the Pentagon.
On March 15, Trump ordered the massive attack on Houthi rebels in a stark warning to the militants and their Iranian backers.
The US president ordered the series of airstrikes on capital Sanaa in response to the terror group’s attacks on Red Sea shipping.
WAR PLANS LEAKED
Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was aware of the plans as he published an article today headlined: “The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans.”
In the story, Goldberg claimed he spoke with Waltz on the Signal messaging app on March 11.
Days later he was invited to join a chain called the “Houthi PC small group”.
Signal is a private messaging app which is often used to keep texts private and untraceable.
Goldberg claimed that when he was added into the chat he was given the callsign “JG”.
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He believes this may have been down to Waltz mistaking his number for Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, due to the initials.
On March 13, Waltz messaged those in the chat and asked them to provide him with the best point of contact from their team who would be able to help with the coming weekend.
Goldberg then revealed a text from Waltz at 8:05am a day later which read: “Team, you should have a statement of conclusions with tasking per the Presidents [sic] guidance this morning in your high side inboxes.”
High side refers to the US government’s classified computer systems.
JD Vance is then said to have messaged the group saying: “I think we are making a mistake.”
He added: “[Three] percent of US trade runs through the [Suez Canal]. 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.”
Hegseth replied: “I understand your concerns.”
Before arguing “messaging is going to be tough no matter what – nobody knows who the Houthis are”.
Vance then appeared to accept the Pentagon chief’s argument as he wrote: “If you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again.”
Then an account believed to belong to Stephen Miller said: “As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.”
Following the strikes, an account said the operation was an “amazing job”.
Others messages congratulated Hegseth for the good work as another said it was a “good start”, according to screenshots.
Goldberg left the group after the strikes had taken place before reaching out to officials including Waltz and Hegseth.
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