Two top Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee are worried that President Trump’s smartphone use is a risk to national security.
“Public reports originally indicated that President Trump began using a ‘secure, encrypted device approved by the U.S. Secret Service’ prior to taking office. Subsequent reports, however, suggest that President Trump may still be using his personal smartphone, an ‘old, unsecured Android phone,'” Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Tom Carper of Delaware wrote Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in a letter made public Monday.
“The national security risks of compromising a smartphone used by a senior government official, such as the President of the United States, are considerable,” they continued, echoing experts. “In addition to these security risks, media reports suggest that President Trump often uses his personal Android phone to communicate via his personal Twitter account.
“As you know, hackers often target smartphones in an attempt to obtain sensitive, personal information from the user,” they wrote. “Malicious software, often referred to as malware, can provide access to this information through emails, text messages, and even smartphone software.”
The duo asked the Pentagon by March 9 “to provide information regarding its efforts to oversee, develop and implement protective measures for President Trump’s use of a personal smartphone.”
