Denver Crosswalks Hacked with Anti-Trump Messages
Denver pedestrians encountered an unusual and jarring experience over the weekend as audio signals at several crosswalks were hacked to broadcast anti-President Donald Trump messages. The incidents, which occurred on East Colfax Avenue, raised concerns about security vulnerabilities and the potential for misuse of public infrastructure.
Details of the Hacking
The hacked crosswalks played messages including, “The walk signal is on, (expletive) Trump. The walk signal is on, Trump murders children,” according to videos circulating on social media as reported by the Denver Post. The affected crosswalks were located at East Colfax Avenue and North Pearl Street, and East Colfax Avenue and North Washington Street.
Vulnerability and Response
Nancy Kuhn, Communications Director for the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, explained that the crosswalk push-buttons were newly installed and had been inadvertently powered on before security measures were fully implemented. The devices were still operating with factory settings, including a default password that was publicly accessible online according to the Denver Post. City officials have since changed the password and stated they do not anticipate further incidents at these locations.
Investigation and Potential Charges
As of March 17, 2026, the Denver Police Department had not released information regarding the identification of the individual or individuals responsible for the hacking, nor had they indicated whether any charges would be filed the Denver Post reported. Kuhn did not provide a timeline for when the hacking occurred or when the issue was resolved.
Impact on Pedestrians
Videos of the hacked crosswalks show pedestrians reacting with surprise and dismay. One pedestrian was heard asking, “Did that say (expletive) Trump?” and another described the incident as “sick” as reported by the Denver Post. The audio signals are designed to assist visually impaired individuals in safely navigating intersections.