Leaked Conversation Reveals Trump Administration Divide on Houthi Strikes: Report

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Tuesday March 25, 2025

A Signal conversation between senior members of the Trump Administration has revealed an apparent divide over US strikes on Yemen's Houthi movement, with some viewing the Houthi effect on global shipping as a problem for European states to resolve.

Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was accidentally included in a digital conversation discussing the recent US attacks on the Houthis before they took place, the magazine reported on Monday.

Vice President JD Vance opposed the strikes on the grounds that diversions away from Suez in response to Houthi attacks were more a problem for Europe than the US, according to the conversation cited in the report.

"I think we are making a mistake," Vance was cited as saying.

"3% of US trade runs through the Suez.

"40% of European trade does.

"I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now."

An individual thought to be Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy, went on to suggest the European and Egyptian governments would need to pay in some manner for any prolonged campaign to remove the Houthi threat against commercial shipping.

"As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return," the individual identified as Miller was cited as saying.

"If the US successfully restores freedom of navigation at great cost there needs to be some further economic gain extracted in return."

Ship & Bunker News Team
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