# The specific clusterfuck of discussing war plans over Signal, a consumer cellphone app **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [March 26, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157 "2025-03-26T21:01:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/1 "2025-03-26T21:01:47Z")
I feel like this specific incident deserves its own pit thread. With Miller’s permission, I have moved all the threads from the general “clusterfuck” thread to this one. Hopefully, I did it fairly cleanly. My apologies for mistakes. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/2 "2025-03-24T16:44:08Z")
> **[Shane Harris (@shaneharris.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/shaneharris.bsky.social/post/3ll55gxd6ls2e)** > > In 25 years of covering national security, I’ve never seen a story like this: Senior Trump officials discussed planning for the U.S. attack on Yemen in a Signal group--and inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.... This is absolutely INSANE. These people are morons. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/3 "2025-03-24T16:47:06Z")
Just read the original: Mind boggling. Gift link, valid for a short time, I believe: > **[The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/?gift=cU4WmXraWG3WoSDDx6g_kWXGZA02TsQu3BLX4HLWsE0&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)** > > U.S. national-security leaders included me in a group chat about upcoming military strikes in Yemen. I didn’t think it could be real. Then the bombs started falling. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/4 "2025-03-24T16:59:07Z")
The underlying article is _well_ worth the time it takes to read in its entirety. Staggering. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/5 "2025-03-24T17:23:02Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Just read the original: Mind boggling. But her emails!!! ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/6 "2025-03-24T17:41:44Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > This is absolutely INSANE. These people are morons. Holy crap. This shit needs to be exposed by every media outlet in the world. I am encouraged, however, that the VP prayed for victory. Good to know that God is still on our side. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/7 "2025-03-24T18:15:46Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > The underlying article is _well_ worth the time it takes to read in its entirety. > > Staggering It’s one of those things that, if it happened in a movie, you’d call bullshit on such a stupid storyline. But the scene of him waiting in his car to see if the bombings actually started on time would make great TV. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/8 "2025-03-24T18:28:17Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > But her emails!!! ‘BUTTERY MALES!’ ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/9 "2025-03-24T18:38:47Z")
Wasn’t this a semi-regular occurrence in the first administration? ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/10 "2025-03-24T18:59:04Z")
The next step is to target Jeffrey Goldberg and The Atlantic for possession of and leaking classified communications. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/11 "2025-03-24T19:13:18Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > It’s one of those things that, if it happened in a movie, you’d call bullshit on such a stupid storyline. > > But the scene of him waiting in his car to see if the bombings actually started on time would make great TV. I’m just hoping they’ll be more careful with the invasion plans for Greenland and Panama. Actually, it would be something if the Trump admin was collaborating militarily with Putin against Ukraine and they did something this stupid. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/12 "2025-03-24T19:18:13Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > The next step is to target Jeffrey Goldberg and The Atlantic for possession of and leaking classified communications. **Goldberg**? I think I see what is going on here… 🤨 /s ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/13 "2025-03-24T19:19:44Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > I am encouraged, however, that the VP prayed for victory. Good to know that God is still on our side. And of course, this just highlights how ridiculous these people are, particularly in their performative religiosity. I mean, did anyone on the face of the planet actually doubt that the US could blow the shit out of Yemen if they wanted to? And suffer zero casualties from Yemeni actions? I mean, a guy on the ship might have dropped a missile on his foot or something, but no Yemenis could be blamed for that! ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/14 "2025-03-24T19:43:45Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > a guy on the ship might have dropped a missile on his foot or something Well, thank Godott it never happened! And thank VP JD for reminding him of his duties vis-à-vis the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/15 "2025-03-24T20:01:32Z")
And naturally, the buck stops somewhere else. > **['I know nothing': Trump slams magazine after top secret war plans texted to...](https://www.rawstory.com/trump-secret-war-plans/)** > > President Donald Trump lashed out at The Atlantic magazine after top secret war plans were shared with a journalist from the outlet who was somehow added to a Signal chat group of defense officials.On Monday, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of... ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/16 "2025-03-24T20:20:02Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > Just read the original: Mind boggling. Gift link, valid for a short time, I believe: > [The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans - The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/?gift=cU4WmXraWG3WoSDDx6g_kWXGZA02TsQu3BLX4HLWsE0&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share) Aside from the jaw-dropping security issue here, I am struck by the anger, resentment, and spite that this whole crew are drowning in. At how even in their internal communications they can’t stop screaming at each other about how they (the US) have been taken advantage of by “pathetic” Europe from whom we need to extract compensation in order to make up for how badly they’ve treated us. It’s such an ugly and broken perspective. It rejects the notion that those with ability or power have any duty towards the weak. The meek shall inherit? Fuck the meek. The very existence of the meek and the fact that they might need help is a direct affront to us. The only way to feel good is to win, and any action that doesn’t assert dominance causes an anger/pain response. It’s a life of perpetual conflict. Not to get way off the rails into woo-woo psychologizing, but these texts make it clear to me how this “administration” is made up of broken people who actually have no idea what love, compassion, family, community, nobility, or responsibility looks or feels like. I suppose this has always been obvious, but I’ve been believing that there was a different discussion going on behind closed doors and away from cameras, with folks using ignoble means to try to reach noble goals. It’s now clear that they are mainly driven by defense mechanisms they developed when their parents treated them horribly as children. Take that diagnosis for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/17 "2025-03-24T20:26:52Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Not to get way off the rails into woo-woo psychologizing, but these texts make it clear to me how this “administration” is made up of broken people who actually have no idea what love, compassion, family, community, nobility, or responsibility looks or feels like. They also provide us with a timely, if superfluous, reminder of the difference between a _Christian_ and a _Christian **[Dominionist](https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/11/15/dominionism-republican-candidate/)**._ ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/18 "2025-03-24T21:44:55Z")
How long will it be until the Trump Administration accuses Jeffrey Goldburg of a criminal act for not removing himself from the text exchange as soon as he realized it was going to have top secret information? I’m sure they can find a way to deflect their own guilt and charge him instead. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/19 "2025-03-24T21:54:58Z")
Il Douche: “ "I’m not a big fan of _The Atlantic_ . To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business.” The Atlantic has been in publication since 1857. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157/20 "2025-03-24T22:45:08Z")
Your post is why this board needs a Like button. Wonderfully insightful. I found it interesting that as they discuss how to spin why the bombings are needed, step one is to blame Biden. Of course. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-specific-clusterfuck-of-discussing-war-plans-over-signal-a-consumer-cellphone-app/1016157.md?page=2)