NPR CEO Has Shocking Link to Firm Behind Signal Messenger App

The "Signalgate" controversy that has gripped Washington this week has provided a rare glimpse into the communication channels among top officials in President Donald Trump’s administration.

During their testimony before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced intense questioning regarding a liberal journalist’s participation in a chat group where prominent figures—such as Vice President J.D. Vance and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz—were discussing the March 15 bombing of Houthi terrorists in Yemen in real time.

However, another high-profile individual questioned on Wednesday had a crucial link to the controversy that went largely unnoticed.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher—who was pressed hard over concerns about the taxpayer-funded “news” organization’s bias—also serves as the chairwoman of the board of directors at the Signal Foundation, the nonprofit behind Signal, the encrypted messaging platform at the heart of the controversy.

Despite the scrutiny Maher faced from conservative lawmakers like Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett, her connection to Signal was not addressed.

This information isn’t exactly hidden. NPR itself acknowledged Maher’s role at Signal at least twice during the week.

One mention came as a “disclosure” note at the bottom of an NPR article covering Pentagon warnings about Signal’s vulnerability to hacking. Another reference surfaced in a discussion on the “All Things Considered” program, where host Leila Fadel briefly highlighted Maher’s link to Signal.

Yet, given NPR’s influence, the widespread attention the "Signalgate" scandal has drawn, and Maher’s congressional testimony occurring within the same timeframe, many social media users expressed surprise that her involvement wasn’t more widely reported.

This omission has led to growing speculation that something more may be unfolding behind the scenes than the public is being told.

Here’s a sample of reactions:

While it remains unclear whether Maher’s position on the Signal Foundation’s board directly influences the "Signalgate" controversy, one thing is evident: it underscores how interconnected key institutions in American politics truly are.

At 41, Maher has a well-documented history of left-leaning political views—something made abundantly clear during her congressional hearing on Wednesday.

That a figure with such political leanings heads a taxpayer-funded "news" outlet, supported by Americans across the political spectrum, has already ignited criticism from conservatives, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Adding to that, her leadership role in an organization behind a messaging platform that has contributed to one of the most challenging public relations incidents for Trump’s second administration only deepens the intrigue.

On Friday morning, Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo referenced Maher while speaking with Texas Republican Rep. Pat Fallon.

“What are the odds that Katherine Maher, the leftist NPR CEO, is on the board of Signal as well?” she asked. (The video is available here, with the question appearing around the 7-minute mark.)

Fallon sidestepped the issue—perhaps because, despite being one of Maher’s fiercest critics during Wednesday’s hearing, he himself had not raised her Signal connection. Nevertheless, he remained harsh in his assessment of Maher, labeling her a “hard lefty.”

“I find it just fascinating that she’s on the board of Signal,” Bartiromo later remarked.

“Yeah, that’s an awfully odd coincidence,” Fallon responded.

However, Fallon went on to downplay the broader significance of the "Signalgate" uproar, suggesting that Democrats were exaggerating the controversy far beyond what most Americans would consider reasonable.

He also pointed out that Waltz had admitted fault in the situation.

During an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Tuesday, Waltz accepted “full responsibility” for the matter, as the New York Post reported.

“I think Mike Waltz acknowledged it was a mistake,” Fallon told Bartiromo. “It was definitely an error, and I think Mike’s learned from it.”