United States Congress / Wikimedia Commons
CV NEWS FEED // President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, is facing renewed criticism after reports revealed that his Venmo friend list was publicly accessible until Wednesday afternoon.
Wired first reported that a Venmo account under the name “Michael Waltz” – complete with a profile photo of the national security adviser – was connected to 328 individuals, including journalists, military officers, lobbyists, and political figures.
The account remained public until Wired contacted the White House for comment, prompting Waltz and others linked to the account to adjust their privacy settings.
The report comes amid growing scrutiny of Waltz after he inadvertently added Atlantic Editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat where senior officials discussed US military operations in Yemen.
Waltz took “full responsibility” for the mishap, now being called “Signal Gate,” during a Tuesday night interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham.
Top Trump officials, including Waltz, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, assured the public that no classified information was shared in the chat, emphasizing that the Atlantic’s decision to release the leaked messages confirms this.
In response to the Signal incident, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Trump has full confidence in Waltz. Trump said in an interview that Waltz “has learned a lesson” and remains “a good man.”
Waltz’s Venmo account connected him to a broad network of influential figures, including CNN anchor Brianna Keilar, MSNBC executive producer Lauren Peikoff, Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and National Security Council staffer Walker Barrett.
According to Wired, security experts warned that “soft target” – ordinary people like doctors, real estate agents, and tailors connected to Waltz – could potentially be exploited by adversaries. Still, others suggest there is little cause for concern, given Waltz’s background as a Green Beret and former Pentagon defense adviser.
Liberal political commentator Brian Krassenstein posted a video of Waltz’s friend list on X, calling the incident “yet another reckless security lapse.”
