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The White House is reportedly forcing its official app onto all government employee phones
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The White House is reportedly forcing its official app onto all government employee phones

Engadget · May 24, 2026, 6:05 PM · Also reported by 4 other sources

Key takeaways

  • You gotta pump up those download numbers somehow.
  • The app even gives you an option to "Text President Trump," which ultimately leads to signing up for a marketing blast.

You gotta pump up those download numbers somehow.

Lucky-photographer/Getty Images The Trump administration is planning to automatically install its White House app on government employees' work phones, according to a report from Government Executive. The report detailed that at least one agency will start installing the official White House app onto government devices as soon as next week, but the scope spans across "all government-furnished mobile phones in the executive branch," according to internal emails seen by Gov Exec.

The Trump administration released the White House app two months ago, with the promise of offering "unfiltered, real-time upgrades straight from the source." When going through the app, users will find press releases and official media, along with selective news articles and statistics. The app even gives you an option to "Text President Trump," which ultimately leads to signing up for a marketing blast. It's not clear if the app will offer more capabilities to federal employees, but Gov Exec reported that the app being installed on government work phones will be the same exact app that the public has access to. Olivia Wales, a White House spokesperson, told the outlet that "government devices typically include pre-installed apps that provide value to government employees' day-to-day work."

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