It appears that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has found himself in a precarious situation, leaving his Venmo account publicly accessible, thereby exposing a multitude of personal and professional contacts. This revelation, uncovered by the left-leaning tech outlet WIRED, highlights a concerning lapse in digital security.
Under the account name “Michael Waltz,” complete with his profile photo, the Venmo account linked to individuals from within the Trump administration, such as Susie Wiles, the Chief of Staff, and Walker Barrett of the National Security Council. The account revealed a network of 328 people, encompassing military officials, political strategists, influential journalists, and members of the Trump administration’s inner circle.
Upon discovering this, both Waltz and Susie Wiles acted swiftly to privatize their Venmo accounts. According to WIRED:
A WIRED review of public data exposed on Venmo accounts associated with senior administration officials suggests that the Signal group chat was not an isolated mistake, but part of a broader pattern of what national security experts describe as reckless behavior by some of the most powerful people in the US government.
The Venmo profile of Waltz showcased a friend list of 328, featuring names affiliated with him, including Barrett, a previous deputy chief of staff, and Micah Thomas Ketchel, a former chief of staff and current senior advisor to Waltz and President Donald Trump.
These accounts also belong to major media personalities, ranging from Fox News’ Bret Baier and Brian Kilmeade to CNN’s Brianna Keilar and Kristen Holmes. Even the outspoken Ivan Raiklin, known for creating a deep state target list, is listed. Requests for comments from Fox News and CNN remained unanswered.
Also included are prominent political figures and operatives, from Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw to a former Deltona, Florida mayor, along with defense industry leaders like Christian Brose of Anduril. Neither Crenshaw’s office nor Anduril provided comments.
Notably, one of the accounts belongs to Susie Wiles, a deep confidant of Trump. Her friend list of 182 accounts includes high-profile names like Pam Bondi and Hope Hicks. Though transaction details weren’t visible, the friend lists remained public until WIRED’s involvement prompted privacy adjustments.
The question arises: where were governmental measures ensuring digital security for such high-ranking officials? Why didn’t national security guidelines address this potential vulnerability?
Interestingly, when President Joe Biden faced a similar situation in 2021, the media brushed it off. Yet, Waltz’s instance is treated as a major threat. The blatant double standard is unmistakable.
