In a stunning development, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz is under fire for reportedly using his personal Gmail account to conduct sensitive government business.
A recent report revealed that members of President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, including Waltz, have been using personal Gmail accounts for official matters.
Waltz and at least one senior aide chose Gmail over their secure, government-issued email addresses.
This decision allowed them to send schedules and work-related documents in a manner unprotected by government oversight.
Waltz’s practices are under scrutiny as reports reveal that a senior aide engaged in sensitive conversations about military positions and weapons systems via personal email.
Many see using Gmail for such communications as a security breach, raising concerns over national security.
Additionally, Waltz mistakenly added a journalist to a Signal group chat, where war plans were openly discussed.
Other reports have highlighted that Waltz used Signal for other sensitive talks about Somalia and Ukraine.
Officials confirmed that The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly included in discussions about a military strike against Yemen.
While National Security Council spokespersons assured no classified information was sent through these open channels, Waltz is currently facing an inquiry.
In response, President Trump has doubled down on his support of Waltz. He also said he was unsure about whether any classified information was shared inappropriately.
Despite facing calls for resignation from Democrat representatives, the administration continues to navigate the fallout.
While the Trump team acknowledges Signal messages’ authenticity, they cast doubt on Goldberg’s credibility.
The German outlet Der Spiegel exposed that private details about Waltz and fellow officials appeared in online databases and leaks.
His Venmo account was accessible to the public until Wired alerted his team.
As investigations continue, the administration seeks to reassure the public that Waltz complied with record-keeping laws by cc’ing his government email on communications.
