By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-04-02 21:11:29 | Updated at 2025-04-03 18:31:35
21 hours ago
The team led by US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, set up at least 20 group chats on the commercial Signal app to coordinate official work on issues involving China, Gaza, Middle East policy, Africa and Europe, Politico reported on Wednesday.
Waltz, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and others have faced sharp criticism following revelations last month they used Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to coordinate and share highly sensitive details about a planned military operation targeting the Houthis in Yemen, rather than using secure government communications channels.
Politico cited four unidentified people who were personally added to Signal chats. Two of them said they were in or had direct knowledge of at least 20 chats and all four saw sensitive information being discussed, the outlet reported.
Citing one of the sources, it said Waltz and incoming NSC staff began using Signal during the presidential transition period and never stopped.
Brian Hughes, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, dismissed the report, saying Signal is an approved, encrypted messaging app and any claim that NSC officials were sending classified information over these channels was false.
“It can be used for unclassified messaging and a user has the responsibility to preserve any official record created. Some in NSC, like those in the media and many areas across the federal government, use the Signal app,” Hughes said.
