A recent incident has raised concerns about the Trump administration’s handling of sensitive national security information. A group chat on the encrypted app Signal, which included senior national security officials, was inadvertently shared with influential journalist Jeffrey Goldberg.

The chat discussed an impending US military strike in Yemen, including operational details, and was potentially a serious breach of security.

The group chat included high-ranking officials such as Vice-President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. A National Security Council spokesman confirmed to the BBC that the text message thread “appears to be authentic”. This incident has sparked worries about the administration’s ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.

Goldberg’s access to the chat provided a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Trump’s senior national security team. However, it also highlights a stunning failure of operational security. The fact that an outsider was able to join the conversation raises questions about the administration’s protocols for secure communication.

Furthermore, the use of a non-secure channel for sensitive discussions may violate the Espionage Act. This act sets rules for handling classified information, and the incident may be investigated further.