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Trump's Smartphone Is National Security Risk, Congressman Warns

February 17, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump's aging smartphone – that he often uses to send his fiery tweets – should be investigated for security reasons, said one U.S. congressman.

On Friday, Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu from California presented a letter to the House Oversight Committee requesting an "investigation of Trump's reckless disregard for cybersecurity."

Usually heads of state, important figures and those working in intelligence opt for a secure phone with restricted functionality to prevent hacking. Trump, however, is believed to be using a Samsung S3 running Android.

"Cybersecurity experts universally agree that an ordinary Android smartphone, which the President is reportedly using despite repeated warnings from the Secret Service, can be easily hacked," Lieu's letter read.

Phones aside, the letter was also concerned with Trump "discussing nuclear strategy openly in a dining room at his Mar-a-lago Club in Florida." Trump was seen sitting at a dining table with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, while "restaurant staff and patrons may have been privy to conversations that should only be held in the most secure environments."

Additionally, Trump reportedly "left the key to a briefcase containing classified documents in his briefcase. This behavior is more than bad operational security – it is an egregious affront to national security."

The letter also called for a hearing into "reports of senior White House staff using insecure, political email accounts from within the White House," a demand which echoes concerns during Hillary Clinton's email scandal.

Trump was quick to criticize Clinton for using unsecured email accounts, arguing that by making herself vulnerable to hackers she put national security at risk. Now as U.S. president, Trump's nonchalent cybersecurity habits have raised similar concerns from security experts.