Messaging App Raises New Concerns After “SignalGate” Fallout
Mike Waltz TeleMessage: A photo from a Cabinet meeting reveals Waltz using the encrypted app TeleMessage, raising concerns.
Waltz, who previously faced backlash for including a journalist in a Signal group chat about a military operation, used the app during Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting. The app screen displayed a prompt: “verify your TM SGNL PIN,” which aligns with language used on TeleMessage’s official website, according to a review by NBC News.
What Is TeleMessage?
TeleMessage is a modified version—or “fork”—of the Signal app. While it incorporates Signal’s end-to-end encryption technology, it also adds features designed for compliance, such as archiving of messages.
Founded in 1999 in Israel and acquired by Smarsh in a deal finalized in 2024, TeleMessage promotes itself as a solution for government and corporate communication archiving.
Tom Padgett, Smarsh’s enterprise president, confirmed that federal agencies widely use the app to comply with message retention laws. One government contract allocated $2.1 million to TeleMessage for “mobile electronic message archiving,” which is still active under the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.
No Signal Connection, Says Signal
Despite similarities, Signal stated it has no affiliation with TeleMessage. A Signal spokesperson confirmed there’s no licensing agreement and warned that Signal cannot ensure the “privacy or security properties of unofficial versions.”
National Security Questions Resurface
The latest revelation again raises questions about communication protocols in the Trump administration. Though apps like Signal are authorized for government use, officials are generally expected to rely on closed federal systems for discussing classified or sensitive matters.
The White House responded vaguely. Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly confirmed Signal is loaded on government phones but did not address the use of TeleMessage directly.
Trump Appoints Waltz as U.N. Ambassador Amid Shake-Up
Only a day after the image surfaced, President Trump announced Waltz as his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He was removed from his post as national security adviser and replaced—at least temporarily—by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will now hold both roles.
Experts Left in the Dark
NBC News contacted five cybersecurity experts. None were previously aware of TeleMessage. The app’s obscurity raises concerns about its vetting and use in government circles.
Smarsh declined to say whether it archives federal messages or which options clients use—email forwarding, external archiving partners, or other methods. The company did state that it does not serve as the “archive of record” for any federal agencies.
As scrutiny builds, both the Trump administration and the app’s backers face growing pressure to ensure proper communication safeguards are in place.
Source: NBC News
