Sergio Gor, President Trump’s chief aide tasked with political vetting, is under intense scrutiny after it was revealed that he has falsely claimed Maltese origins when he was born in Uzbekistan, the New York Post reported.
The Times of Malta and Maltese government records confirmed Gor was born in Tashkent in 1986, contradicting years of claims and raising concerns over his transparency and eligibility for permanent security clearance.
In June 2025, Malta’s government reported there were no birth records for Gor in the country, which aligned with property records Gor filed in 2021, where he listed Uzbekistan as his birthplace. Gor has refused to state his actual country of origin but said it is not Russia.
As a key figure responsible for staffing the administration, Gor is required to submit Standard Form 86, a vital part of the clearance process. However, sources say he has yet to officially submit the document.
The White House claimed Gor “completed” the form but did not confirm whether it had been filed. His attorney, Rob Garson, later stated the form “has been filled out and filed,” despite ongoing internal doubts about its submission status.
With Gor’s interim clearance set to expire in July 2025, questions remain about whether President Trump will extend it, as only he holds the authority to do so for top aides operating without full approval.
Although not born there, Gor did spend part of his youth in Malta. Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg confirmed that Gor lived in the country for nearly ten years and attended both elementary and middle school.
He was a student at De La Salle College from 1996 to 1999 and had Maltese residency records for at least three years. These ties may have fueled the perception—and Gor’s own claims—that he was of Maltese origin.
His mother, Liya Gorokhovsky, opened a company in Malta in 1994 and listed herself as Israeli. Gor listed Uzbekistan as his birthplace when he purchased his mother's Maltese home in 2021 for approximately $300,000.
Despite mounting scrutiny, the White House continues to stand behind Gor. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called him a model of the American Dream and praised his role in assembling President Trump’s appointee team.
White House Counsel David Warrington also defended Gor, insisting he is fully compliant with legal and ethical obligations. He emphasized that Gor's clearance is active and dismissed contrary claims as false.
Prior to joining the Trump administration, Gor worked for Senator Rand Paul and later published a Trump photo book in 2021 after launching his own publishing company. He now resides in a mansion near Palm Beach, Florida.
In June 2025, Gor reportedly influenced Trump's decision to drop Elon Musk’s NASA pick, Jared Isaacman, allegedly due to Isaacman’s past donations to Democrats. This move worsened tensions between Musk and Trump.
According to insiders, Gor held a personal grudge against Musk following a cabinet meeting where Musk allegedly embarrassed him. Gor’s reported advice led Trump to distance himself from Musk-backed appointments.
In response, Musk announced the formation of a third political party, further fracturing conservative unity ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans fear it could divide their voter base and affect upcoming races.
