Hegseth Condemns Journalist for Misinformation on Yemen War Plans
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic of spreading falsehoods after misinformation regarding Yemen’s war plans surfaced due to a group chat error. Hegseth labelled Goldberg as deceitful and expressed frustration over the nature of media narratives surrounding military communications.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has publicly reprimanded Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, for allegedly “peddling hoaxes” concerning national security communications. Hegseth’s criticism arose after Goldberg was mistakenly included in a group chat discussing Yemen’s military strategies during Trump’s administration. He branded Goldberg as “deceitful” and labeled him a “so-called journalist” while on his inaugural Indo-Pacific visit to Hawaii.
He maintained, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that,” dismissing inquiries about the disclosure of sensitive information through the inclusion of Goldberg. Hegseth further discredited Goldberg by asserting, “This is the guy who peddles in garbage,” but did not provide an explanation for the choice of using Signal as the communication tool or how Goldberg joined the chat.
Hegseth has strongly condemned Goldberg’s claims regarding leaked war plans, calling his journalism into question. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions between military communications and media reporting, highlighting the need for clarity and responsibility in handling sensitive information. Hegseth’s remarks and refusal to elaborate suggest a desire to distance the Defense Department from any media misrepresentation.
Original Source: www.independent.co.uk
