Opinion | 8 Pieces of Free Advice for Trumps National Security Team

This may be presumptuous, but it strikes me that the new administration’s national security team could use some advice.I have worked with senior leaders through many administrations from both parties.

I’ve seen firsthand how highly capable and skilled professionals have conducted themselves in these positions.So, Vice President JD Vance; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; Tulsi Gabbard, the director of the Office of National Intelligence; and Michael Waltz, the national security adviser: In the wake of Signalgate, here are some recommendations.1.

Trust Your People.The military and civilian professionals assigned to you are very competent and possess deep knowledge about your organizations and national security.They want to help you succeed.

My staff would have kept me from violating the rules you appear to have ignored or blundered through.If your staff knew you were sharing details of pending military operations on Signal, a commercially available app, and didn’t stop you, that’s a big problem.

I’m assuming they weren’t involved.Mr.

Waltz, senior officials don’t build their own chat groups.That should be done by support staff — if at all.

I’ve worked with many of our senior military leaders.Many had extensive combat experience, including in missions not unlike those on March 15 targeting the Houthis.

If they had known Signal was being used, or the nature of the communications being shared there, I cannot imagine that they would not have intervened.This is what happens when you disregard expertise.2.

Maintain the dignity and professionalism of your office.All of you are under constant scrutiny.You are being judged by the American people, by those who report to you and by the world at large.

Anything you do may be reported on by the media and recorded for posterity.This isn’t about you — it’s about the office you hold.

You do a disservice to yourselves and to the nation when you conduct yourselves unpr...