Caught on digital camera: Mike Waltz using less secure version of Signal messaging app

Mike Waltz and the controversy appear to go collectively for a bit longer, as a brand new photograph emerged displaying the previous nationwide safety advisor using a modified and less secure version of the Signal messaging app, TM SGNL, elevating contemporary safety considerations.
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump eliminated Waltz from his place and nominated him for the UN ambassador after the Signal chat leak and now this photograph pushed him into controversy’s whirl.
Reuters images from April 30 captured Waltz’s telephone display displaying conversations with a number of high-ranking officers, together with JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, and Steve Witkoff. These officers maintain essential positions in managing overseas relations and nationwide safety issues, together with negotiations with Vladimir Putin relating to the Ukraine battle.
The pictures had been taken at a White House cupboard assembly in Washington DC on April 30, 2025. The modified utility, TM SGNL, is developed by TeleMessage, an organization that replicates messaging functions with extra archiving capabilities.
According to 404 Media’s evaluation, while this archiving function may assist adjust to presidential record-keeping necessities, it doubtlessly compromises the end-to-end encryption that makes commonplace Signal secure, as messages may be retrieved from storage.
Visible within the images had been partial message contents, together with a message to “Rubio” stating “there is time” and one from “Vance” studying “I have confirmation from my counterpart it’s turned off. He is going to be here in …” The display additionally confirmed proof of a name to Gabbard and an 8am “PDB” assembly schedule.
Following these occasions, Trump reassigned Waltz to the place of UN ambassador on Thursday, with Rubio assuming the function of interim nationwide safety adviser. The White House’s official response maintained that “Signal is an approved app for government use and is loaded on government phones.”