Insider alert: Why Trump officials are using Signal for sensitive discussions
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In today’s digital world, where messages can spread instantly and privacy feels like a luxury, finding a truly secure way to communicate is more important than ever.
Enter Signal—a messaging app that has recently gained attention not just among everyday users but also within the highest levels of government.
Reports suggest that top Trump officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, have turned to Signal for discussing sensitive military matters.
But what makes this app so appealing, and why does it matter to you?
Signal made headlines after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, accidentally became part of a private Signal group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen.
The National Security Council later confirmed the authenticity of these messages, raising concerns about security protocols at the highest levels of government.
Signal is a secure messaging app that supports text, phone, and video calls. It allows up to 1,000 users in a group chat, with an option for messages to disappear after a set time.
The app’s popularity has grown due to its end-to-end encryption, which scrambles messages so only the sender and recipient can read them.
"Adoption during uncertain times or specific events" has reinforced Signal's role as a preferred secure communication tool, PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore told CBS MoneyWatch.
Unlike some messaging apps, including Telegram, Signal enables encryption by default and does not collect or store sensitive user data.
Signal is known for its end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read messages—no one else, not even Signal itself.
While its 70 million users in 2024 may seem small compared to Apple’s iMessage, the app’s popularity tends to surge during uncertain times, showing that when privacy is a priority, people turn to Signal.
Signal has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding its reported use by the Trump administration.
Signal is managed by the nonprofit Signal Foundation, founded by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton (co-founder of WhatsApp).
The foundation describes itself as a nonprofit "with no advertisers or investors, sustained only by the people who use and value it," allowing Signal to prioritize privacy and security over commercial interests.
Its board consists of five members, including Marlinspike and Acton. Acton, who co-founded WhatsApp, contributed $50 million to help establish the foundation.
While Signal’s encryption is considered highly secure, no system is completely foolproof.
The National Security Agency (NSA) has warned of phishing attacks targeting Signal users, though these scams are not due to flaws in the app itself but rather common cyber threats that affect all major platforms.
Government officials have used Signal for tasks like scheduling sensitive meetings.
However, during the Biden administration, those with permission to download it on White House-issued phones were advised to use it sparingly, according to a former national security official.
"Unlike other end-to-end encryption messaging services, Signal does boast a rich range of features," Pescatore said. "However, hackers are always on the prowl to find weaknesses and use apps maliciously."
Signal has become a preferred tool for national security officials, activists, and even government agencies.
However, its use for discussing classified information raises legal concerns, including potential violations of federal record-keeping laws.
Sam Vinograd, who served in former President Barack Obama's Homeland Security Department, said Tuesday, "By communicating classified information on a nonsecure platform like Signal, senior US government officials ... increased the chance that foreign governments could get access to sensitive operational security plans — and that could put our own troops in harm's way."
While speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Trump stated, "I don't know anything about Signal, I wasn't involved in this," but suggested that various sectors of government use the app.
"I hear it's used by a lot of groups, I hear it's used by the media a lot," he added.
Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether it’s appropriate for government officials to use a commercial app for sensitive discussions, prompting further scrutiny.
The rising use of Signal at the highest levels of government highlights just how important digital privacy has become.
Whether for personal or professional communication, secure messaging is no longer just a concern for officials—it’s something everyone should consider.
Read next: From zero gravity to hard reality: NASA astronauts face new challenges on Earth
Now, we’d love to hear from you! Do you use encrypted messaging apps like Signal? What are your thoughts on balancing security and transparency in government communication? Join the discussion in the comments below.
Enter Signal—a messaging app that has recently gained attention not just among everyday users but also within the highest levels of government.
Reports suggest that top Trump officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, have turned to Signal for discussing sensitive military matters.
But what makes this app so appealing, and why does it matter to you?
Government officials' use of Signal for sensitive discussions raises security and legal concerns. Image Source: YouTube / Al Jazeera English.
The Signal Saga: A Chat Gone Awry
Signal made headlines after Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, accidentally became part of a private Signal group chat discussing military strikes in Yemen.
The National Security Council later confirmed the authenticity of these messages, raising concerns about security protocols at the highest levels of government.
What is Signal and What Makes It So Secure?
Signal is a secure messaging app that supports text, phone, and video calls. It allows up to 1,000 users in a group chat, with an option for messages to disappear after a set time.
The app’s popularity has grown due to its end-to-end encryption, which scrambles messages so only the sender and recipient can read them.
"Adoption during uncertain times or specific events" has reinforced Signal's role as a preferred secure communication tool, PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore told CBS MoneyWatch.
Unlike some messaging apps, including Telegram, Signal enables encryption by default and does not collect or store sensitive user data.
Signal is known for its end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read messages—no one else, not even Signal itself.
While its 70 million users in 2024 may seem small compared to Apple’s iMessage, the app’s popularity tends to surge during uncertain times, showing that when privacy is a priority, people turn to Signal.
Signal has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding its reported use by the Trump administration.
Also read: What’s next for the US economy? A government official’s take on recession fears
Who Runs Signal?
Signal is managed by the nonprofit Signal Foundation, founded by Moxie Marlinspike and Brian Acton (co-founder of WhatsApp).
The foundation describes itself as a nonprofit "with no advertisers or investors, sustained only by the people who use and value it," allowing Signal to prioritize privacy and security over commercial interests.
Its board consists of five members, including Marlinspike and Acton. Acton, who co-founded WhatsApp, contributed $50 million to help establish the foundation.
Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was unexpectedly added to a Signal chat discussing sensitive military operations. Image Source: YouTube / Al Jazeera English.
Also read: Trump plans meeting with Putin–A step towards ending the war?
Is Signal Truly Unbreakable?
While Signal’s encryption is considered highly secure, no system is completely foolproof.
The National Security Agency (NSA) has warned of phishing attacks targeting Signal users, though these scams are not due to flaws in the app itself but rather common cyber threats that affect all major platforms.
Government officials have used Signal for tasks like scheduling sensitive meetings.
However, during the Biden administration, those with permission to download it on White House-issued phones were advised to use it sparingly, according to a former national security official.
"Unlike other end-to-end encryption messaging services, Signal does boast a rich range of features," Pescatore said. "However, hackers are always on the prowl to find weaknesses and use apps maliciously."
Leaked Signal messages reveal a discussion on military operations, raising security concerns. Image Source: YouTube / Al Jazeera English.
Also read: Text trouble–Government officials' blunder sends top-secret plans to an unauthorized recipient via group chat
The Debate Over Government Use of Signal
Signal has become a preferred tool for national security officials, activists, and even government agencies.
However, its use for discussing classified information raises legal concerns, including potential violations of federal record-keeping laws.
Sam Vinograd, who served in former President Barack Obama's Homeland Security Department, said Tuesday, "By communicating classified information on a nonsecure platform like Signal, senior US government officials ... increased the chance that foreign governments could get access to sensitive operational security plans — and that could put our own troops in harm's way."
While speaking to reporters from the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Trump stated, "I don't know anything about Signal, I wasn't involved in this," but suggested that various sectors of government use the app.
"I hear it's used by a lot of groups, I hear it's used by the media a lot," he added.
Democratic lawmakers have questioned whether it’s appropriate for government officials to use a commercial app for sensitive discussions, prompting further scrutiny.
The rising use of Signal at the highest levels of government highlights just how important digital privacy has become.
Whether for personal or professional communication, secure messaging is no longer just a concern for officials—it’s something everyone should consider.
Read next: From zero gravity to hard reality: NASA astronauts face new challenges on Earth
Now, we’d love to hear from you! Do you use encrypted messaging apps like Signal? What are your thoughts on balancing security and transparency in government communication? Join the discussion in the comments below.
