US President Donald Trump remains loyal to his personal mobile phone, which he sees as an indispensable bridge with the outside world, despite a series of security warnings.
According to a recent revelation from an American newspaper, Mr. Trump often uses his personal phone to contact friends, Republicans, businessmen, stars and even... strange numbers.
He loved to call. Also like to be called. A call from an unknown number, for him, is an opportunity to start a conversation with someone interesting" - a consultant revealed.
The reason Mr Trump refused to use a home phone at the White House - which is encrypted and monitored by intelligence agencies - is because he does not trust the internal apparatus.
His point of view is: I cant trust anyone in the White House, so I have to use my phone, a former consultant said.
This makes national security experts worried, because personal phones are easily attacked by cyber attacks and security. In late 2024, the FBI warned that hackers had penetrated the US telecommunications system, capable of tracking calls from senior figures, including Trump.
However, Mr Trump is said to have ignored the warnings, stating: It is not true. My phone is the best on the market.
After many unsuccessful advices, the advisers finally gave up, accepting Mr. Trumps continued use of personal phones. A source said that Mr. Trump's devices have been upgraded with security in their own way, but it is unclear how effective it is.
According to the source, Mr. Trump used many devices, including a private one, to post on social networks. But his new personal phone is his call center where he texted, leaving a minute-long Voicemail and... asking if the recipient had shared his message with his relatives.
Maybe up to 100 people have the Presidents own number, an assistant said. He kept calling anyone to update the situation.
Although the White House declined to comment on the security measures, Communications Director Steven Cheung spoke up to defend Mr. Trump: "His use of a personal phone shows that this is the most transparent and accessible president in the history of the United States."
With more than 100 people who can call President Trump directly, from justutes to Hollywood stars, even strangers, his personal phone is now no different from "The Pocket Office" - where he runs himself from the election campaign to international foreign affairs.
