Security Breach Exposes Data of Trump's Top Advisers Online

2025-03-28 politics

Washington, D.C., Friday, 28 March 2025.
Private contact information of Trump’s key security advisers found online, highlighting severe data security lapses. The breach poses risks of espionage through potential spyware on mobile devices.

Extent of the Data Exposure

A comprehensive investigation by German news magazine Der Spiegel has revealed that mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and even some passwords belonging to key Trump administration officials are readily accessible online [1]. The affected officials include National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth [2]. Most of these contact details and accounts appear to be currently active, with many numbers linked to social media profiles and messaging services including WhatsApp and Signal [3].

Security Implications

The timing of this revelation is particularly concerning, coming in the wake of the recent ‘Signalgate’ scandal where classified military operation details were inadvertently shared with a journalist on March 24, 2025 [4]. Technical analysis suggests that the exposed data could enable hostile actors to potentially install spyware on officials’ devices, creating a significant national security vulnerability [5]. The National Security Council has attempted to downplay these concerns, stating that Waltz’s referenced accounts and passwords had been changed before his congressional tenure in 2019 [6].

Official Response and Accountability

The breach has triggered significant criticism from security experts and former officials. Former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, Mick Mulroy, emphasized that conducting sensitive discussions on commercial applications was ‘unacceptable’ [7]. The incident has also highlighted apparent double standards in security protocol enforcement, with military law experts noting that lower-ranking personnel typically face severe consequences for similar security breaches [8].

Sources

data breach security advisers