After Mike Waltz, now, Trump's White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' name pops up on public Venmo accounts; here's what reports say

Former President Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Waltz and other senior officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, left their Venmo accounts publicly accessible, exposing sensitive connections and personal details. According to a Wired report, Waltz’s profile—linked to his real name and photo—listed 328 contacts, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Fox News’ Bret Baier, and conspiracy theorist Ivan Raiklin. The accounts were switched to private only after Wired alerted the White House.

Venmo Data Risks Compound Earlier Signal Chat Leaks

This lapse follows Waltz’s admission of responsibility for a March security breach involving a Signal group chat accidentally shared with The Atlantic’s editor. The chat, which included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, disclosed plans for U.S. strikes in Yemen. Similarly, Vance faced scrutiny in 2023 for a public Venmo account listing far-right figures and Project 2025 affiliates. These incidents raise alarms about officials’ handling of digital privacy, particularly with apps storing personal and professional networks.

Links to Controversial Figures Amplify Risks

Waltz’s Venmo connections included Raiklin, a self-described “secretary of retribution” known for targeting political enemies. Such ties could provide foreign actors with leverage, experts warn. The repeated security missteps—from Signal leaks to Venmo exposures—underscore systemic vulnerabilities in the administration’s digital practices. While no evidence suggests immediate exploitation, the ease of access to officials’ networks poses ongoing national security threats.

FAQs:

Why are public Venmo accounts a security risk?
They reveal personal networks and connections, which foreign agents could exploit for espionage or influence operations.


How does this relate to the earlier Signal chat incident?
Both cases involve poor digital practices by officials, exposing sensitive data and undermining national security.