Trump Officials’ Signal Chat Leak Sparks Inquiry

Top Trump administration officials accidentally added a journalist to a Signal Messenger chat discussing war plans, triggering calls for a congressional investigation into a potential security breach. The encrypted messaging app, known for its end-to-end encryption and minimal data storage, is widely used by privacy advocates and government agencies. However, experts warn that while Signal itself is secure, hacked or compromised devices can expose even encrypted messages.

The leaked discussion reportedly involved military strike plans against Yemeni Houthi militants, raising concerns over the handling of sensitive national security information. Under U.S. law, mishandling classified materials can be a crime, though it remains unclear if any laws were violated.

Cybersecurity analysts emphasized that the real threat lies in state-sponsored hackers who can infiltrate entire phones, making any secure app vulnerable. Despite this, Signal’s president reaffirmed its status as the “gold standard” for private communications.

Democratic lawmakers are now pushing for an investigation into whether classified information was improperly shared. The incident has reignited debates over the suitability of encrypted messaging for government communications, especially in matters of national security.