Who is Walt Nauta; the aide involved with Donald Trump’s federal case now charged as a co-conspirator?

A defiant Donald Trump stood before a Miami courtroom yesterday afternoon to plead “not guilty” in the federal case against both himself and his aide, Walt Nauta, regarding the 37 counts related to more than 100 classified documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago in August. Shortly before arriving at the courtroom, and the media circus surrounding the area - including the now famous Versaille Cuban Restaurant - Trump told his supporters that the FBI planted the boxes in an attempt to discredit him ahead of the 2024 US Presidential elections.

With the arraignment lasting little over 45 minutes, Trump was released with conditions including a travel ban and forbidden to talk to his aide, who is being charged as being a co-conspirator regarding Trump's federal case, including six counts as per a 44-page indictment around the case in question.

Making his way to his Bedminster resort to address his followers after this arraignment, Trump stated that it was his presidential right to take the items with him, frequently alluding to them as mementos or tokens during his time at the White House. "Whatever documents a president decides to take with him, he has the right to do so. It's an absolute right. This is the law," Trump said.

But that is not strictly true - the Presidential Records Act lays out the difference between "personal" records — things like family photos — and presidential records. The point of contention now is whether Trump honestly believes that documents pertaining to national security of the United States and its allies are considered, by him, personal items which he may argue were indicative of his legacy at the White House during his term as POTUS.

While Trump continues on the campaign trail, it leaves the question what his aide, Nauta, will be doing now given that conditions of Trump’s release includes not talking to one of his remaining closest allies. But even more pressing for some people overnight is the question - who is Walt Nauta and how did he become part of Donald Trump’s inner sanctum?

Who is Walt Nauta?

Waltine Torre Nauta, known as Walt Nauta, is an American aide who served as a valet to former President Donald Trump during his time in the White House. Born in either 1982 or 1983, Nauta began his career in the U.S. Navy in July 2001 as a culinary specialist. 

In 2012, he joined the Presidential Food Service, a part of the White House Military Office, and eventually became President Trump's personal valet. Nauta was responsible for attending to the president's needs, including answering the Presidential call button. He was promoted to senior chief petty officer in September 2020.

Following Trump's departure from the White House in January 2021, Nauta continued working for him at the Mar-a-Lago club and residence in Florida, assuming the roles of butler and body man. He accompanied Trump to various public appearances and campaign events. Nauta received compensation from the Save America PAC starting in August 2021 and was also paid by Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

According to Heavy, Walt Nauta's marriage to Savannah Rogers was recorded in a wedding announcement published in the Pacific Daily News. The report indicates that he married a woman named Rogers on January 9, 2023, in a ceremony held at Ga’an Point in Hågat, Guam - Nauta’s place of birth.

The wedding was officiated by Hågat Mayor Carol Tayama, with the announcement listing the bride's parents as Bobbi and Lloyd Johnson of Millington, Tennessee, and Kevin Rogers of Green Cove Springs, Florida. According to public records, Savannah Rogers is also known as Savannah Nauta, although her current address is listed as Maryland