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The Atlantic magazine’s editor in chief is still considering whether to release the Trump administration’s full “war plan” texts — as he claimed the group chat he was mistakenly added to also revealed the name of an undercover CIA agent.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the mag’s top editor, told “The Bulwark” podcast on Tuesday that he’s weighing whether he should release the full transcript after those on the group text — including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — denied that sensitive national security plans were ever discussed.

“I get the defensive reaction,” Goldberg said of the Trump admin’s reaction to the bombshell text mishap. “But my obligation, I feel, is to the idea that we take national security information seriously.”


  The Atlantic magazine’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, is still considering whether to release the Trump administration’s full “war plan” texts. The Bulwark / YouTube The Atlantic magazine’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, is still considering whether to release the Trump administration’s full “war plan” texts. The Bulwark / YouTube

“Maybe in the coming days, I’ll be able to say, ‘OK, I have a plan to have this materiel vetted publicly.’ But I’m not going to say that now.”

He claimed, too, that a covert agent’s name was disclosed in the chat.

“I withheld her name. They named somebody who’s an active CIA officer in this thread, which is on Signal, and I withheld it. I didn’t put it in the story because she’s undercover,” he said.

“Just because they’re irresponsible with material, doesn’t mean that I’m going to be irresponsible,” Goldberg added.


  The magazine editor said he was inadvertently added to a Signal message chain earlier this month in which top Trump administration officials discussed bombing the Houthi terror group in Yemen. Obtained by the NY Post The magazine editor said he was inadvertently added to a Signal message chain earlier this month in which top Trump administration officials discussed bombing the Houthi terror group in Yemen. Obtained by the NY Post

It comes after the magazine editor revealed Monday that he was inadvertently added to a Signal message chain earlier this month in which top Trump administration officials — including Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance — discussed bombing the Houthi terror group in Yemen.

Breaking down the military terms used in Signal group chat

  • “Trigger Based” = Sensors used to confirm ID of target
  • “Strike Drones on Target” = Drones bomb target
  • “Sea-based Tomahawks” = Cruise missiles fired from at least one submarine
  • “OPSEC” = Operational security
  • “Positive ID” = Terrorist’s ID confirmed
  • BDA = Battle damage assessment after strike

Despite denials of a national security breach by Team Trump, Goldberg has insisted he witnessed a “minute-by-minute accounting” of how the US intended to strike Yemen after he was included in the chain, titled “Houthi PC small group,” on March 11.

He said he received the Signal invitation from Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz — just days before the strikes in Yemen were carried out on March 15. 


  Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe (from right), accompanied by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Director Kash Patel, speaks during a Senate Committee on Intelligence hearing on March 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. Getty Images Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe (from right), accompanied by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and FBI Director Kash Patel, speaks during a Senate Committee on Intelligence hearing on March 25, 2025, in Washington, DC. Getty Images

“At moments like this, when they’re under pressure because they’ve been caught with their hand in the cookie jar or whatever, you know, they will just literally say anything to get out of the moment,” Goldberg said of the reaction from Trump officials.

“As much as I enjoy national security investigative reporting, I don’t need strike plans two hours before a launch.”

“That should not be coming into my phone. I mean, I take this stuff very, very seriously and I take the responsibility not to get Americans killed very, very seriously,” he added.

Here is the latest on the Yemen Signal group-chat:


  Despite denials of a national security breach by Team Trump, Goldberg has insisted he witnessed a “minute-by-minute accounting” of how the US intended to strike Yemen after he was included in the chain, titled “Houthi PC small group,” on March 11. Getty Images for The Atlantic Despite denials of a national security breach by Team Trump, Goldberg has insisted he witnessed a “minute-by-minute accounting” of how the US intended to strike Yemen after he was included in the chain, titled “Houthi PC small group,” on March 11. Getty Images for The Atlantic

  Smoke and fire rising from a neighborhood following an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 19, 2025. ZUMAPRESS.com Smoke and fire rising from a neighborhood following an airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen, on March 19, 2025. ZUMAPRESS.com

Trump, meanwhile, downplayed the text saga — insisting it was “the only glitch in two months” of his administration.

The president, who expressed support for Waltz, argued that the lapse “turned out not to be a serious one.”

“Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump said.

He also appeared to shift blame for Goldberg being added to the chain to an unnamed Waltz aide.

“It was one of Michael’s people on the phone. A staffer had his number on there,” he said.

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