Read the messages Trump officials exchanged on leaked Signal thread

4 days ago 15
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US President Donald Trump's national security team faces scandal after a reporter was mistakenly added to a messaging group in which senior officials discussed attack plans on the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen.

Trump and his team have continued to insist that "classified" information was not shared in the Signal group chat that included the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg.

The conversation, which The Atlantic first published on Wednesday, shows behind-the-scene discussions between Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz just hours before the attack was launched.

You can read the full message thread below.

 Team- establishing a principles group for coordination on Houthis, particularly for over the next 72 hours. My deputy Alex Wong is pulling together a tiger team at deputies/agency Chief of Staff level following up from the meeting in the Sit Room this morning for action items and will be sending that out later this evening. Pls provide the best staff POC from your team for us to coordinate with over the next couple days and over the weekend. Thx.

MAR (4:29 PM): Mike Needham for State

JD Vance (4:29 PM): Andy baker for VP

TG (4:30 PM): Joe Kent for DNI

Scott B (4:39 PM): Dan Katz for Treasury

Pete Hegseth (4:53 PM): Dan Caldwell for DoD

Brian (6:34 PM): Brian McCormack for NSC

 From CIA perspective, we are mobilizing assets to support now but a delay would not negatively impact us and additional time would be used to identify to identify bettter starting points for coverage on Houthi leadership

 I understand your concerns - and fully support you raising w/ POTUS. Important considerations, most of which are tough to know how they play out (economy, Ukraine peace, Gaza, etc). I think messaging is going to be tough no matter what - nobody knows who the Houthis are - which is why we would need to stay focused on: 1) Biden failed & 2) Iran funded. Waiting a few weeks or a month does not fundamentally change the calculus. 2 immediate risks on waiting: 1) this leaks, and we look indecisive; 2) Israel takes an action first - or Gaza cease fire falls apart - and we don't get to start this on our own terms. We can manage both. We are prepared to execute, and if I had final go or no go vote, I believe we should. This not about the Houthis. I see it as two things: 1) Restoring Freedom of Navigation, a core national interest; and 2) Reestablish deterrence, which Biden cratered. But we can easily pause. And if we do, I will do all we can to enforce 100% OPSEC. I welcome other thoughts.

Michael Waltz (8:32 AM): The trade figures we have are 15% of global and 30% of container. It's difficult to break that down to US. Specific because much of the container either going through the red sea still or around the Cape of Good Hope our components going to Europe that turns into manufacturing goods for transatlantic trade to the United States. Whether we pull the plug or not today European navies do not have the capability to defend against the types of sophisticated, antiship, cruise missiles, and drones the Houthis are now using. So whether it's now or several weeks from now, it will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes. Per the president's request we are working with DOD and State to determine how to compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans.

 green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. We also need to figure out how to enforce such a requirement. EG, if Europe doesn't remunerate, then what? If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return. 

Pete Hegseth (9:46 AM): Agree

Pete Hegseth (11:44 AM): TEAM UPDATE: TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/ CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch. 
1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package) 
1345: "Trigger Based" F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME) - also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s) 
1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)
1415: Stirke Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier "Trigger Based" targets)
1536: F-18 2nd Strike Starts - also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.
MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)
We are currently clean on OPSEC.
Godspeed to our Warriors.

JD Vance (12:13 PM): I will say a prayer for victory

 What?

Michael Waltz (2:00 PM) Typing too fast. The first target - their top missile guy - we had positive ID of him walking into his girlfriend's building and it's now collapsed.

JD Vance (2:01 PM): Excellent

John Ratcliffe (2:36 PM): A good start

Michael Waltz (time unclear): (sends emojis of a fist, American flag and fire)

MAR (5:14 PM): Good Job Pete and our team!!

Michael Waltz (5:15 PM): The team in MAL did a great job as well.

S M (5:18 PM): Great work all. Powerful start.

Pete Hegseth (5:20 PM): CENTCOM was/is on point. Great job all. More strikes ongoing for hours tonight, and will provide full initial report tomorrow. But on time, on target, and good readouts so far.

Susie Wiles (5:21 PM): Kudos to all - most particularly those in theater and CENTCOM! Really great. God bless.

Steve Witkoff (5:47 PM): (sends two prayer hands emojis, a flexing arm emoji, and two American flag emojis)

TG (6:35 PM): Great work and effects!

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