Claims intel officials using Signal to send classified info ‘false,’ Trump admin says
The White House Pushes Back Against Claims of Using Signal App for Classified Information
The White House is firing back against recent media reports suggesting that intelligence officials have been using the end-to-end encrypted messaging app Signal to send classified information. In a statement to Fox News Digital, National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Brian Hughes debunked the allegations as “false.”
Hughes emphasized that Signal is an approved messaging app for unclassified information and dismissed claims that NSC officials are using it to send classified information. He asserted that the President and his national security team are focused on delivering for the nation by confronting adversaries and supporting allies to promote peace through strength.
The controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s use of Signal was sparked by a report in The Atlantic by Jeffrey Goldberg, who revealed being inadvertently invited to a sensitive group chat on the encrypted messaging app by Trump National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. Critics have speculated that the chat may have included “war plans” for an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Despite media reports from outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Politico, and The Washington Post alleging frequent use of Signal by Waltz and his team for sensitive discussions, Hughes reiterated that Signal is appropriate for unclassified information. He highlighted that federal agencies often install Signal on government devices and defended the use of the app for communications within the NSC.
Waltz has taken ownership of the leaked Signal chat accessed by Goldberg but has maintained that no classified information was shared in the conversations. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had previously recommended the use of end-to-end encrypted messaging platforms like Signal for senior government officials before President Trump assumed office.
However, critics of the Trump administration are demanding accountability. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee have sent letters to non-principal agency officials involved in the Signal chat accidentally accessed by Goldberg, seeking transcribed interviews to ascertain whether sensitive or classified information was discussed.
Rep. Gerry Connolly, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, also called on Waltz to cease using personal Gmail accounts for official government business following reports that NSC members were using such accounts. Connolly’s letter to Waltz demanded the submission of all communications related to official government business sent via Signal or other unauthorized platforms.
As the debate over the use of Signal and other messaging apps in government continues, the White House stands by its assertion that no classified information was shared via the app. The administration remains committed to upholding national security interests while ensuring the effective implementation of the President’s agenda.
