Recently leaked Signal messages revealed that Vice President JD Vance expressed significant reservations about the U.S. military strikes on Yemen prior to their execution on March 15, 2025. The private communications, accidentally shared with The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, showed Vance advocating for a one-month delay and describing the bombing campaign as a potential “mistake.”
The conversation, confirmed as authentic by the White House, included several high-ranking Trump administration officials discussing the planned military action. Vance’s primary concerns centered on the disproportionate impact of Suez Canal shipping disruptions on European versus American trade, noting that only 3% of U.S. trade passes through the canal compared to 40% of European commerce.
The Vice President emphasized the inconsistency between the strikes and President Trump’s broader policy of requiring European nations to take greater responsibility for their defense needs. He also raised concerns about possible oil price increases and suggested more time was needed to properly communicate the mission’s importance to the American public.
Joe Kent, Trump’s nominee for National Counterterrorism Center director, supported Vance’s position, stating there was no urgent timeline necessitating immediate action. However, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back, arguing that delaying the strikes could risk Israeli intervention or a breakdown of the Gaza ceasefire.
Hegseth’s messaging strategy focused on two main points: highlighting President Biden’s failure to deter Yemeni attacks and emphasizing Iran’s support of the Houthis, though U.S. officials have acknowledged uncertainty about the extent of Tehran’s influence over the group.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz defended the military action, emphasizing America’s role in reopening shipping lanes while promising to seek European financial compensation for the operation. Despite his initial reservations, Vance ultimately deferred to Hegseth’s judgment, though expressing frustration about “bailing Europe out again.”
The bombing campaign resulted in at least 53 casualties, including five children and two women, according to Yemen’s Health Ministry. Following the strikes, the Houthis launched multiple attacks targeting the USS Harry Truman, which were reportedly intercepted, and began firing missiles at Israel in response to renewed Israeli bombing in Gaza.
The Houthis had previously suspended their attacks during the Gaza ceasefire from January 19, maintaining that their operations would only cease with another Gaza truce and the lifting of Israeli aid restrictions. While administration officials focused on shipping concerns, reports from Israeli media suggest the U.S. bombing campaign is largely aimed at supporting Israel, with American forces taking responsibility for responding to Houthi attacks.
President Trump has threatened the Houthis with “annihilation,” though previous military efforts have failed to subdue the group. This includes President Biden’s year-long bombing campaign from January 2024 to January 2025 and the U.S.-backed Saudi-led war from 2015 to 2022, which was unsuccessful in removing the Houthis from power.
The leaked communications provide rare insight into the internal debates surrounding U.S. military intervention in Yemen, highlighting divisions within the administration over strategy, timing, and justification for the attacks. The discussion also underscores ongoing tensions regarding burden-sharing with European allies and the complex relationship between regional conflicts and international commerce.