Trump Official Who Added Journalist To War Plan Chat Is Related To Creed Lead Singer
Many people on social media had their mouths wide open on Tuesday after national security advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently added a journalist Trump administration group chat discussing matters of national security.
But not for the reason you might think.
Although Waltz accidentally inviting Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat was, in the words of former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, 'an epic fuckup,' it was a piece of trivia posted by CNN's Andrew Kaczysnki that took social media users to an even higher level of shock.
'Worth noting that Mike Waltz's brother-in-law is the lead singer of Creed,' he wrote on X.
Worth noting that Mike Waltz's brother-in-law is the lead singer of Creed.
— Andy Kaczynski (@KFILE) March 25, 2025
Waltz is married to Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Trump's surgeon general pick. Her sister, Jaclyn, is married to Scott Stapp, the lead singer ofmillennium-era rock band Creed (though they are currently in the process of getting a divorce, according to People.)
Stapp even performed at fundraisers for his brother-in-law when he was in Congress.
The unexpected family connection was a big topic of discussion on social media, as people tried to square the music of their youth with the politics of the present.
And, yes, people did make jokes and memes using some of Creed's best-known songs, 'Higher,' 'One Last Breath' and 'With Arms Wide Open.' Thanks for asking.
WITH COMMS WIDE OPEN pic.twitter.com/Jpqt8SKJgS
— Posterior Malone (@PosteriorMalone) March 25, 2025
With chats wide openWelcome to this place, I'll show you everythingWith chats wide openIf I had just one wish, only one demandI hope Jeff's not like me, I hope he understandsThat he can take this thread and publish in his magAnd he can greet the world with chats wide…
— Robby Soave (@robbysoave) March 25, 2025
[NatSec group chat]MARCO RUBIO: We'll just deport them all to Venezuela.MIKE WALTZ: Even the non-Venezuelans? You think they'll accept them?SCOTT STAPP (accidentally added to chat): WITH ARMMMS WIIIDE OPENNN. https://t.co/VXm0fSCtVS
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) March 25, 2025
They're accepting anyone into their signal chat with arms wide open pic.twitter.com/i9po7y9df3
— Joseph Frusci (@_DrFrusci) March 25, 2025
Mike Waltz can redeem himself by arranging for Creed to headline Americas 250th birthday https://t.co/PGmE6IwCrF
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) March 25, 2025
hold me now i'm six feet from breaching the espionage act https://t.co/rKqi5dJxZV
— Mary Sagatelova (@MarySagatelova) March 25, 2025
Can you take me higherTo a place where group chats leak https://t.co/VXSAiyIqkm
— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris) March 25, 2025
Just when I thought nothing could take this story higher
— Dylan McLemore (@voiceofD) March 25, 2025
Just got derailed by more than I should have by learning Mike Waltz's sister-in-law is married to Scott Stapp from Creed. Which I guess makes him his brother-in-law once reviewed.
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) March 25, 2025
And one person couldn't help but wonder if the bizarre connection between a conservative politician and an early 2000s post-grunge act was a sign of something deeper.
'This is full circle. Is this hell?'
This is full circle. Is this hell?
— Katy McBride (@KatyForTX) March 25, 2025
Mike Johnson Downplays Group Chat Leaks As 'Officials Doing Their Job,' Gets Torched On X
Pete Hegseth And Mike Waltz Ripped As 'Careless,' 'Incompetent' Amid Calls To Resign
Fox News Hosts Put Most Ridiculous Spin On Group War Chat Scandal
Atlantic Editor Names The 1 Thing He Struggled To Explain In Bombshell Group Chat Report
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Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump aides want Texas to redraw its congressional maps to boost the GOP. What would that mean?
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The Hill
28 minutes ago
- The Hill
ICE raids accelerate, protests spread
Evening Report is The Hill's P.M. newsletter. Sign up here or subscribe in the box below: Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here THE WHITE HOUSE vowed Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids would continue 'unabated,' as protests spread from Los Angeles into other major American cities. Demonstrations have sprung up in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Austin, Denver, San Francisco and other major cities. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) sought to rally the nation to his side, as U.S. Marines prepared to join National Guard troops dispatched to keep the peace in Los Angeles. 'This isn't just about protests here in Los Angeles,' Newsom said in a direct-to-camera address. 'This is about all of us. This is about you. California may be first, but it clearly will not end here. Other states are next. Democracy is next. Democracy is under assault before our eyes.' 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Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Musk regrets some of his Trump criticisms, says they 'went too far'
Musk regrets some of his Trump criticisms, says they 'went too far' Elon Musk, the world's richest person and Donald Trump's former advisor, says he regretted some of his recent criticisms of the US president (Kevin Dietsch) (Kevin Dietsch/GETTY IMAGESvia AFP) Elon Musk, the world's richest person and Donald Trump's former advisor, said Wednesday he regretted some of his recent criticisms of the US president, after the pair's public falling-out last week. "I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far," Musk wrote on his social media platform X, in a message that was received favorably by the White House. Musk's expression of regret came just days after Trump threatened the tech billionaire with "serious consequences" if he sought to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill. Their blistering break-up -- largely carried out on social media before a riveted public since Thursday last week -- was ignited by Musk's harsh criticism of Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" spending bill, which is currently before Congress. ADVERTISEMENT Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk -- one of the Republican Party's biggest financial backers in last year's presidential election -- to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation. "He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump, who also branded Musk "disrespectful," told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be. Trump also said he had "no" desire to repair his relationship with the South African-born Tesla and SpaceX chief, and that he has "no intention of speaking to him." But after Musk's expression of regret, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump was "appreciative," adding that "no efforts" had been made on a threat by Trump to end some of Musk's government contracts. "The president acknowledged the statement that Elon put out this morning, and he is appreciative of it," Leavitt said. ADVERTISEMENT According to the New York Times, Musk's message followed a phone call to Trump late on Monday night. Vice President JD Vance and Chief of Staff Susan Wiles had also been working with Musk on how to broker a truce with Trump, the report said. - 'Wish him well' - In his post on Wednesday, Musk did not specify which of his criticisms of Trump had gone "too far." The former allies had seemed to have cut ties amicably about two weeks ago, with Trump giving Musk a glowing send-off as he left his cost-cutting role at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But their relationship cracked within days, with Musk describing the spending bill as an "abomination" that, if passed by Congress, could define Trump's second term in office. Trump hit back at Musk's comments in an Oval Office diatribe and from there the row detonated, leaving Washington stunned. ADVERTISEMENT Trump later said on his Truth Social platform that cutting billions of dollars in subsidies and contracts to Musk's companies would be the "easiest way" to save the US government money. US media have put the value of the contracts at $18 billion. With real political and economic risks to their falling out, both already appeared to inch back from the brink on Friday, with Trump telling reporters "I just wish him well," and Musk responding on X: "Likewise." Trump had spoken to NBC on Saturday after Musk deleted one of the explosive allegations he had made during their fallout, linking the president with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sex trafficking. bur-arp/aha
