Trump's national security team's chat app leak stuns Washington

Using American military force is a sensitive issue for US presidents.

If adversaries learn about military actions in advance, lives could be at risk.

It could also jeopardize national foreign policy objectives.

The Trump administration was fortunate that a group chat did not fall into the wrong hands.

This chat discussed an impending US strike in Yemen among senior officials on Signal.

However, influential journalist Jeffrey Goldberg observed the message thread.

Goldberg is the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Magazine. He claims he was added to the chat by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.

The group included Vice-President JD Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and others.

A National Security Council spokesman confirmed to the BBC that the messages appear authentic.

Goldberg noted that members debated policy and operational details about the strike.

This provided a rare glimpse into Trump's senior national security team’s discussions.

Waltz praised the team just minutes after US strikes on Houthi targets on March 15.

He used emojis of a US flag, a fist, and fire to celebrate. Other officials joined in congratulating each other.

However, these celebrations may be short-lived after Monday's revelations.

An outsider being added to sensitive conversations shows a failure of operational security.

Conducting such discussions outside secure channels could violate the Espionage Act.

Senator Mark Warner criticized this handling of classified information on X.

He stated it makes all Americans less safe.