Trump Aides Discuss Secret Plan for Iran and Houthi Operations

Aides to former U.S. President Donald Trump held a secret meeting at Camp David on Friday to discuss potential military actions against Iran and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The gathering, which lasted several hours, also addressed the ongoing conflict in Yemen involving Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The meeting was reportedly unusual and was not publicly announced by Trump's administration, according to Axios.

The last comparable high-level meeting occurred in June 2025, shortly before a war between Israel and Iran began. U.S. officials stated that Vice President J.D. Vance led the recent discussion. Other attendees included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House Special Envoy Steve Witcoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kaine.

One U.S. official described the meeting as involving "decisions or, at least, a very detailed discussion" regarding the Middle East situation. The White House declined to comment on the meeting. Earlier reports indicated that President Trump had considered resuming U.S. strikes against Iran after the November midterm elections, informing his closest advisors of this possibility during strategy discussions. Trump also previously commented on the prospects of reaching an agreement with Iran amid stalled negotiations and rising tensions, stating that Iran and its allied groups, including Hezbollah, would face consequences.