Statement on New Photo Revealing Trump Administration’s Continued Use of Signal

On Wednesday, just days after American Oversight went to court for a preliminary injunction in the Trump administration’s “Signalgate” affair, a Reuters photographer captured National Security Adviser Mike Waltz using a modified Signal messaging app during a cabinet meeting the day before his departure from the White House was announced. The image also included apparent active discussions in the app with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, among others.

As the Signalgate scandal continues to unfold, American Oversight released the following statement from interim Executive Director Chioma Chukwu:

“The photos reaffirm our deep concerns about the Trump administration’s reckless approach to records preservation and secure communications. It’s not just that Mike Waltz has now been observed using a modified Signal app — it’s that senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, are continuing the brazen use of insecure messaging apps for official business, potentially threatening our national security, and jeopardizing the safety of our brave service members. 

“Make no mistake, no one involved in this widespread and systemic misuse of Signal and its auto-deleting feature has been appropriately sanctioned, including Waltz. This behavior reveals a dangerous reliance on unauthorized tools that threaten both the integrity of official records and the security of sensitive national security conversations. Americans deserve leaders who take these responsibilities seriously — not officials who circumvent proper protocols through potentially unvetted and unsecured workarounds.”

For more information about American Oversight’s Signalgate investigation, click here.