A growing controversy surrounding the encrypted messaging app Signal has sparked speculation about its potential ties to U.S. intelligence agencies and whether it was used to target Trump allies. Dubbed Signalgate, the debate intensified after an incident involving National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, raising questions about whether rogue CIA operatives manipulated the app to create a scandal.
The origins of Signal trace back to an initiative led by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who sought to equip U.S.-backed foreign actors with secure communication tools. Inspired by the Arab Spring protests of 2011, the app was promoted as a way to facilitate covert operations abroad. Its development was funded through the Open Technology Fund (OTF), a program operating under Radio Free Asia (RFA)—a media outlet originally created as a CIA broadcasting tool in the 1950s. Some analysts argue that Signal was always more than just a privacy-focused app, suggesting it was designed with intelligence operations in mind.
Concerns over Signal’s deeper ties to the U.S. government were further amplified by a 2024 City Journal report, in which an OTF insider claimed that U.S.-funded encryption tools, including Signal, have long been used as instruments of foreign policy and intelligence. Adding to these suspicions is Signal Foundation chair Katherine Maher, who has ties to organizations such as the Atlantic Council, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and the World Economic Forum (WEF). Before her role at Signal, Maher worked with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), an organization linked to so-called “color revolutions” aimed at destabilizing governments. Critics argue that her history of supporting online censorship and her past criticisms of Trump suggest a political bias that could have influenced the platform’s use.
The app’s influence within government agencies also raises concerns. Between 2022 and 2024, Maher served on the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board, while the Biden administration’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officially recommended Signal for government communications. CIA Director John Radcliffe testified before Congress that Signal had already been installed on federal work devices before Trump took office, emphasizing that it was an approved tool for non-classified communication. However, some have speculated that rogue intelligence figures may have exploited this access to target members of Trump’s administration.
One incident fueling this theory is the unexplained addition of Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg—a known Trump critic—to a government Signal chat. The unexpected presence of a liberal journalist in a secure communication channel has led to widespread speculation on social media, with some users suggesting this was a setup by intelligence insiders seeking to manufacture a scandal. Meanwhile, CNN recently reported growing concerns over potential leaks and sabotage efforts by “disgruntled” CIA employees who opposed Trump-era layoffs and policies.
As Signalgate continues to unfold, serious questions remain about whether Signal was always a deep-state tool and whether intelligence operatives played a role in framing members of Team Trump. If these allegations hold weight, it could mark yet another chapter in the ongoing battle between the intelligence community and Trump’s political movement.
