President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Signal, the app in which his top national security officials discussed war plans in a text group that included a journalist, was “the best technology for the moment.”
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Defense via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The reported handling of private military discussions among top officials in Trump’s Cabinet has triggered significant U.S. security concerns for some.
Social media also erupted in the aftermath of the reports of the communications held by Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, among others.
Goldberg says he was included in the message thread with the Trump officials in the encrypted messaging app Signal earlier this month. He said that the chat included U.S. military plans involving airstrikes against the Houthis, the Iran-backed militia that has been launching attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea amid a clash over control of shipping routes.
Hegseth rebuked Goldberg’s report on Monday, saying, “Nobody was texting war plans, and that’s all I have to say about that.”
What To Know
Trump, with Waltz also in the room, told reporters in the White House after signing executive orders that “there was no classified information, as I understand it, they used an app if you want to call it an app. That’s an app that a lot of people use.”
“Now if it’s classified information, it’s probably a little bit different,” Trump continued.
The president said Signal is “used by the media a lot. It’s used by a lot of the military, and I think, successfully, but sometimes somebody can get onto those things that’s one of the prices you pay when you’re not sitting in the Situation Room.”
“Sometimes you have to move very quickly,” Trump said, “and there are other devices that are very good, but they are very, very cumbersome, and you’re not able to use them…from a practical standpoint. So, all we can do is find out the best we can do with modern technology. They’ll probably get better over the years.”
Trump noted during the media availability that the Singal app was “the best technology for the moment.”
MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images
What People Are Saying
National security adviser Mike Waltz on Tuesday during the media availability with Trump: “Mr. President, you asked about lessons. I think there’s a lot of lessons. There’s a lot of journalists in the city who have made big names for themselves, making up lies about this president, whether it’s the Russia hoax or making up lies about Gold Star families.”
He continued, “And this one in particular, I have never met, don’t know, never communicated with, and we are in…we are looking into and reviewing how the heck he got into this room, but I’ll tell you what. The world owes President Trump a favor.
“Under Biden, global shipping was shut down. Pinprick attacks, months between them, our destroyers being fired upon dozens of times. President Trump took decisive…action with his national security team, took out the head missileer, knocked out missiles, knocked out headquarters, knocked out communication sites, and for once, as we hear, as you all hear from every one of the allies, thank God for American leadership again. Thank God for American strength.”
Waltz added that on Tuesday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe testified that he was introduced to Signal on his professional devices. Waltz said that a “key part” of sovereignty is opening sea lanes and “knocking the crap out of terrorists,” and thanked Trump and Hegseth.
Republican Senator Markwayne Mullins of Oklahoma on Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter: “Signal contained no classified information. For years, Hillary Clinton shared classified national security secrets from her personal email. Forget about apples to oranges, this is like comparing apples to a steak.”
Former Republican congressman and CNN commentator Adam Kinzinger, Monday on X: “Any member of the military who did what they did on signal would be kicked out or arrested.”
What Happens Next
Trump says he asked Waltz to look into potential security issues with Signal while speaking to reporters.
Update 3/25/25, 4:33 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
