World leaders on their cell phones: A commemoration of the NSA spying scandal

July 30, 2016

By Timothy McGrath

The spying plot of the National Security Agency thickens.

Last week, German weekly Der Spiegel reported that the NSA might have been tapping the cell phone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Then we learned that the NSA was probably monitoring the phones of 35 different world leaders.

There's no word yet on which world leaders were being targeted. But we are spoiled for choice, because world leaders love their cell phones.

To commemorate this moment in the history of espionage, here are some world leaders and their cell phones.

1) Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

It would make sense for the NSA to tap Merkel's cell phone because she's really into her phone.

Like here, where first she was sad and then she was like, oh look a phone.

(Julian Stratenschulte/Getty Images)

She's on it a lot.

(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Probably as much as you're on your phone.

(Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

"Sorry, service terrible … in Afghanistan."

(Steffen Kugler/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)

Texting the person sitting next to her. Obviously.

(John MacDougall/Getty Images)

"Can't talk … at a thing."

(Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Here she is with Nicolas Sarkozy, back when he was still president of France. "Hey Nicky, who you on the phone with?"

(Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)

"NSA. Say hello."

(Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)

"Hey."

(Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung-Pool via Getty Images)

Angela Merkel is one of the most phone-yolked world leaders out there. The NSA is going to take forever to go through her data. But there are other world leaders to spy on, too.

2) Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan

He looks like he's on to you, NSA.

(Shah Marai/Getty Images)