Outgoing National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was photographed during a Cabinet meeting using an app labeled “TM SGNL”.
The app, which appeared to be a modified version of the encrypted messaging app Signal developed by the company TeleMessage, is designed to archive encrypted communications, a requirement for official communications under federal records law.
Why It Matters
While encrypted messaging apps are widely used for secure communication, they pose compliance challenges under federal transparency laws. The Presidential Records Act requires that official communications by government officials be preserved.
In March, Waltz came under scrutiny after reports emerged that he and other senior members of the Trump administration had used Signal to discuss classified military operations. One such group chat inadvertently included The Atlantic‘s editor-in-chief. On Thursday, it was announced that Waltz would be resigning as national security advisor.
What To Know
TeleMessage is a tech company acquired last year by the communications compliance firm Smarsh, which offers a service that replicates popular encrypted messaging apps.
Federal procurement records show the U.S. government has purchased licenses from TeleMessage for archiving encrypted messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal, according to reports from 404 Media.
TeleMessage’s TM SGNL variant modifies the open-source Signal platform to add archiving capabilities.
On Wednesday, an image of Waltz’s phone, taken while he attended a Cabinet meeting that day, was published by Reuters. In the photo, the device displayed message threads with individuals such as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Although encryption is essential for secure communication, unmanaged messaging apps such as Signal are generally prohibited by the Department of Defense for handling sensitive or non-public information.
However, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has said Signal remains “an approved app for government use and is loaded on government phones.”
On May 1, President Donald Trump nominated Waltz to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations after removing him from the role of national security adviser. Rubio is set to serve as Walz’s interim replacement.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump told The Atlantic on April 24: “I think we learned: Maybe don’t use Signal, okay? If you want to know the truth. I would frankly tell these people not to use Signal, although it’s been used by a lot of people. But, whatever it is, whoever has it, whoever owns it, I wouldn’t want to use it.”
John Bolton, Donald Trump’s former national security advisor, in Wall Street Journal opinion piece: “Not in my experience have emojis been deployed as they were during the inexplicable group chat on Signal. For Mr. Trump, however, chaos is embedded in his DNA and endemic in his team.”
What Happens Next
Congress must confirm Waltz’s nomination before he can assume the role of UN ambassador.
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