Mike Waltz Spotted Using Less-Secure Signal Alternative at White House, Raising Security Concerns
Photos from a recent Trump cabinet meeting show former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz using TM SGNL, a modified version of the Signal app, raising concerns over communication security and data retention at the White House.
Mike Waltz Spotted Using Less-Secure Signal Alternative at White House, Raising Security Concerns
Newly surfaced photographs from a recent cabinet meeting held by former President Donald Trump have raised national security concerns after revealing that top White House officials were using a modified version of the Signal messaging app.
According to a report by The Guardian, images captured by Reuters show former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz using TM SGNL, a clone of Signal developed by TeleMessage. Unlike the original app known for its end-to-end encryption, TM SGNL includes message retention and archiving features, which may compromise user privacy. Experts warn that such modifications could weaken the app’s encryption protocols.
This development follows a controversy involving Waltz just last month, when he mistakenly added a journalist to a confidential group chat discussing potential military strikes on Yemen. The operation was later executed exactly as outlined in the chat, fueling criticism over security lapses.
Sources suggest that the use of TM SGNL may be an attempt to comply with federal requirements to preserve presidential records. However, cybersecurity analysts argue that these changes may come at the expense of secure communication.
Photos from the meeting show Waltz messaging high-profile government figures, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. One message to Rubio read, “there is time,” while a reply from Vance stated, “I have confirmation from my counterpart it's turned off. He is going to be here in…”. Other images indicate Waltz placed a Signal call to Gabbard and scheduled an 8 a.m. meeting for what appears to be the President’s Daily Brief (PDB).
Responding to the uproar, a White House spokesperson told The Washington Post, “As we have said many times, Signal is an approved app for government use and is loaded on government phones.”
Amid the backlash, Trump dismissed Waltz from his role as national security adviser on Thursday. He named Marco Rubio as interim replacement and reassigned Waltz to serve as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
