Posted on 03/24/2025 11:34:32 AM PDT by Miami Rebel
Vice President JD Vance criticized the judgment of his boss, President Donald Trump, in a leaked group chat in which Vance and several other senior Trump administration officials discussed the possibility of American military strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.
On Monday, The Atlantic‘s Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he had accidentally been added to a Signal group chat in which the Principals Committee – the heads of the top American national security agencies — debated how and whether to strike the Houthis earlier this month.
At one point, after National Security Advisor Mike Waltz informed the group that they had been sent information regarding the administration’s plans over email, and Vance expressed concerns over the decision.
“Team, I am out for the day doing an economic event in Michigan. But I think we are making a mistake,” replied the vice president. “3 percent of US trade runs through the suez [canal]. 40 percent of European trade does. There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary. The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message.”
“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now. There’s a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices,” he added. “I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc.”
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth professed to understand Vance’s concerns, but nevertheless pushed back.
“VP: 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,” wrote Hegseth. “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 [is] 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.”
“If you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again,” Vance told Hegseth.
Vance’s comments about Trump not being “aware” of his “inconsistent” messaging are notable given the pair’s past. While he eventually developed into one of Trump’s most reflexive allies, the VP was once among his most strident critics.
During Trump’s 2016 campaign, Vance privately compared the then-candidate to Adolf Hitler and asked his followers on Twitter, “What percentage of the American population has @realDonaldTrump sexually assaulted?”
That doesn’t sound like a criticism. It sounds more like a concern.
With the constant history of lies that leftist media spews on a daily basis, and has done so for the past several decades, you’ll forgive me if I say I’m going to need something just a little more concrete than a statement from a journalist saying “I was accidentally added to this chat room with the VP and a bunch of other folks and the VP said something negative about the President!”
NSC spokesman confirmed it’s genuine and says they’re investigating.
Is Signal approved for conducting these sorry of communications.
His wife and her game:
Pamela Ress Reeves is an international development and policy strategist who advises governments, foundations, and companies. She has contributed to global strategic agenda-setting as advisor to Nike and Mars, Inc., and as the consulting senior advisor for gender strategy to the executive office of Melinda Gates.
Does NOT sound like an accident!
Hahahaha...my sentiments exactly. Par for the course.
Spacebar’s post at #3 says it perfectly. Only Leftists (and we have them in increasing numbers on Free Republic) believe that voicing objections to anything is a sign of weakness.
Thinking people (unlike some people, both in the government and on this forum who DON”T think) fully understand the best way to reach a workable, functional, and a fully thought-out conclusion is to NOT have uniformity of thought.
It explains why we still understand science and reject the climate alarmism because we understand science is NOT consensus or agreement.
They don’t understand that concept either in science or politics.
Conservatives may reach a political consensus or agreement, but it isn’t because they have to walk in lockstep. It is because they look at all the angles an agree, or have internal consensus, of the best way forward.
Leftists are infantile, as are those who support them and see things the way that they do.
Steaming bovine excrement.
Lies
Ah, just kidding - didn't happen. You know that the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic would never pass up an opportunity to trash the Trump administration.
The group was discussing clearly classified information, and Goldberg possibly violated secrecy laws by disclosing this material. That should be investigated, but more importantly putting this jack hole on the email list needs to be corrected, and whoever did it needs to be in sanctioned in some way.
No he was responding to some prick online about him supposedly bad mouthing Elon which was obviously if you listen to it AI generated
I reacted as you did. Trump was asked about it.
President Trump reacts to The Atlantic group chat leak: “I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business...You’re telling me about it for the first time.”
Why were they using WhatsAPP I can understand talking in person or emailing but why WhatsAPP of all things
The guy who “accidentally” invited Goldberg should be in custody right now. Meanwhile, I am very impressed with Hegseth here. And Vance is being a little too much of a nagging Nellie.
Shut up, ass-brain, and quit going from thread-to-thread throwing the "I" word around, like your neocon thought-masters.
This is weird.
Fair notice - I subscribe to The Atlantic. It’s a slogging, tedious read. I mean, tough.
And Jeffery Goldberg has an issue with the truth.
That said, why would anyone in that group have Goldberg’s Signal contact info? Probably to do briefing on background.
Anyways, it’s a bad look. I give President Trump credit. Someone is going to get their ass chewed out today.
Your views are consistently moronic if nothing else. He’s one of the biggest assets our side has ever had & smarter, more quick witted & politically savvy than retread dweebs like you by a thousand miles. His ability to dispense with the establishment press or finesse his way through a debate (purposely stacked against him) are truly indespensible & rare skills for right leaning figures. You truly are a miserably bad judge of winning strategy & conservative thought! 🙄
You guys are in reflex mode, retreating to the sanctuary of past politics.
TRUMP IS DRAINING THE SWAMP. That is why Vance was picked. 2 years as Senator is his ONLY political experience and his only time in DC. He is NON SWAMP and you guys have to get it through your heads, that is all that matters.
Not isolationism, not policing the world order, not being a good ally. DRAINING THE SWAMP.
Frankly, if a policy existed in the past, in any Administration, it should likely be a candidate for erasure.
I would like to know WHO sent YOU to FR to pretend to be in 2024? HELLO!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.