On the morning of July 6, Donald Trump’s valet Walt Nauta strode via a scrum of photographers in entrance of a Miami federal courthouse to plead not responsible to serving to the previous president conceal categorized paperwork at Mar-a-Lago and obstructing justice. If Nauta was overwhelmed by the gravity of the second––probably the most severe cost towards him carries a most jail sentence of 20 years––he masked his feelings behind wraparound sun shades affixed to his shaved head.
Prosecutors certainly hoped Nauta was sweating it. Since final yr, particular counsel Jack Smith’s crew has seemingly tried to get the 40-year-old former Navy prepare dinner to flip on Trump and cooperate with the categorized paperwork probe. However Nauta has refused, a stance prosecutors might must get used to because the trial looms. In line with six present and former Trump advisers and associates I spoke with since Nauta’s arraignment, the loyal valet is unlikely to activate his boss. “He’s fiercely protecting of the [former] president,” a senior Trump marketing campaign adviser says.
Trump final month pleaded not responsible to 37 counts within the categorized paperwork case, the primary time in historical past a former president has confronted federal prices. That arraignment adopted Trump, in April, pleading not responsible to 34 prison counts in Manhattan associated to hush-money funds to Stormy Daniels, all as federal and state investigations proceed into his try to overturn the 2020 election. Regardless of the prospect of a number of prison trials enjoying out in an election yr, Trump has vowed to proceed his quest for the Republican nomination—with Nauta proper by his side.
The tragic irony is that Nauta’s loyalty to Trump appears born from the service ethos he discovered within the navy. Despite the fact that Nauta retired from the Navy in 2021 and now works for a civilian former president, he allegedly adopted Trump’s orders to maneuver bins as if Trump had been nonetheless the commander in chief. “Walt nonetheless serves the president as if he by no means took off the uniform,” longtime Trump adviser Michael Caputo says.
In contrast to the volcanic egos that encompass Trump, Nauta is exceedingly pleasant, humble, and reserved, staffers say. “He doesn’t draw any consideration away from Trump,” a former West Wing staffer says. Nauta was born in Guam and grew up one among six siblings close to a Naval base on the island. In 2001 Nauta enlisted within the Navy and finally earned the rank of senior chief culinary specialist. In 2012, he was assigned to the White Home as a member of the presidential meals service throughout Barack Obama’s second time period (the Navy oversees meals operations on the White Home).
Most Naval postings are transient, however Nauta excelled and stayed on after Trump was elected. Nauta was promoted to valet, which required him to be stationed exterior the Oval Workplace able to deliver Trump a gentle feed of hamburgers and Food plan Cokes. West Wing staffers say Trump praised Nauta’s diligence. “You’d be within the Oval with a visitor and Trump would say to Walt, ‘Can we get some chips in right here?’ Then Trump would flip to the visitor and say, ‘What would you like? This man can get you something,’” one other former West Wing staffer remembers. Trump particularly preferred that Nauta had “a navy bearing and coaching,” the previous West Wing staffer says. (Regardless of avoiding the Vietnam Conflict, Trump likes to encompass himself with navy individuals. He ceaselessly referred to navy officers and generals as “my generals” and “my navy.”) And so, after Trump left workplace in shame after the January 6 revolt, Nauta joined him as a private aide at Mar-a-Lago.
In line with a senior Trump marketing campaign adviser, the Biden White Home instructed Trump to ship Nauta again to Washington after simply two months. Within the spring of 2021, younger Trump aides dealt with Nauta’s valet duties, however the senior marketing campaign adviser says they grumbled when requested to do private duties for Trump in any respect hours, and Trump wished Nauta again. By August 2021, Nauta was on the payroll of Trump’s tremendous PAC, and he retired from the Navy by September 2021.
Since then, their bond has solely grown tighter. Staffers say Nauta expresses no ambitions to transition from valet right into a coverage function. “Walt anticipates every little thing,” the senior marketing campaign adviser says. “If the president’s tie ever will get even a drop of water, Walt exchanges it for a brand new one. I believe Walt reads his thoughts. I don’t suppose King Charles has anybody this good.”
Within the coming months, Nauta’s loyalty will face the final word check. “When the complete weight of the Division of Justice is in your throat, it looks like you may’t breathe, however Nauta has spine,” Caputo tells me.
One other former Trump loyalist warns that Nauta’s loyalty could also be misplaced. “A notable factor about historical past is that it tends to repeat itself,” former Trump fixer Michael Cohen tells me. “All Walt must do is have a look at what has occurred to me and others in Trump’s orbit to understand the sensible transfer is to fret about your self. Relaxation assured, the cliché that every little thing Trump touches dies is correct.”
