Trump's National Security Advisor Used Personal Gmail - Report

National Security Concerns Arise from Trump Administration Officials' Gmail Use

Reports indicate that high-ranking officials within the Trump administration’s National Security Council, including top national security advisor Michael Waltz, utilized Gmail for official government communications.

Details from The Washington Post Report

This information comes from documents reviewed by The Washington Post and statements from three anonymous government sources.

The revelation surfaces shortly after news broke regarding several cabinet members, such as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, engaging in discussions about classified war strategies via a Signal chat group.

Sensitive Discussions on Unsecured Platforms

According to The Washington Post, an assistant to Mr. Waltz reportedly used the standard, non-government approved version of Gmail.

This platform was used to discuss “highly technical conversations” with counterparts in other government departments, covering sensitive military deployments and advanced weaponry related to an active conflict.

National Security Advisor's Personal Account

Furthermore, the national security advisor, Michael Waltz, himself had information of a “less sensitive, but potentially exploitable” nature directed to his personal Gmail account.

This included schedules and various work-related documents, as stated by the officials cited in the report.

Officials Characterize Gmail Use as "Problematic"

The use of personal Gmail accounts by the national security advisor has been described by officials as representing “problematic handling” of sensitive information.

A request for comment directed to a White House spokesperson was not immediately answered.

Increased Risk of Cyberattacks

Government officials’ personal Gmail accounts are frequently targeted by malicious actors, including state-sponsored hackers, through phishing schemes designed to steal information.

In 2019, Microsoft identified Iranian hackers attempting to access personal email accounts linked to Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign.

Past Instances of Security Breaches

Later, security researchers discovered evidence of Chinese targeting of personal accounts belonging to staff members of the Biden presidential campaign during the 2020 election cycle.

Historical Precedent: David Petraeus Case

A similar situation occurred in 2012 when former CIA Director David Petraeus was found to have used a shared Gmail account to exchange drafts with his biographer, with whom he was involved in an extramarital affair.

Petraeus avoided imprisonment after pleading guilty to mishandling classified information by retaining it in eight notebooks provided to the biographer.

This highlights the ongoing risks associated with using personal email accounts for government business.