Trump Shifts Mike Waltz from National Security Advisor to U.N. Role

P President Donald Trump is replacing his National Security Adviser, Mike Flynn, and nominating him to become the Ambassador to the United Nations. announced On Thursday, signaling the first significant change in staff during Trump's second term.

A senior White House official told The News Pulsethat Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong are set to leave their posts Thursday, weeks after a bombshell report revealed Waltz used the encrypted messaging app Signal to coordinate a sensitive military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen.

A previous member of the Green Berets and a congressman from Florida, Waltz inadvertently included Theصند Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg moved to a private conversation, leading to the release of crucial operational specifics following the incident. These included aspects such as the timeline and armaments used, facts that were subsequently verified when members of the Trump administration diminished the importance of this sensitive data discussed in the chat.

Although Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed the particular military strategies within the Signal conversation, it was Waltz who established the chat group and accidentally included a reporter as well. He admitted fully taking responsibility for forming the group during an interview with Fox News at The News Pulse. "It’s humiliating,” he stated, adding they were determined to uncover what went wrong. This error led to widespread conjecture in Washington regarding potential accountability measures. President Trump promptly supported both officials from his cabinet following the incident, describing Waltz as “a good person” who has now learned his lesson.

Now, Waltz will require the Senate's support to serve as the U.S. representative at the United Nations, a confirmation process that might be difficult due to the tight Republican majority. The position of U.N. Ambassador became vacant when Representative Elise Stefanik stepped down from her nomination so she could retain her seat in the House amidst worries about the GOP’s thin majority. "Throughout his military uniform on the battleground, in Congress, and as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has diligently prioritized America’s interests," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I am confident he will continue this dedication in his new capacity."

Trump  announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security advisor.

After Waltz was substituted, over five weeks following The Atlantic’s Democrats on Capitol Hill suspect that the Administration thinks sufficient time has elapsed since the news broke, allowing them to portray the departure as part of an overall restructuring instead of a direct reaction to the leak. Numerous individuals are demanding that Hegseth resign from his position as well. Further reports indicate that Hegseth disclosed military strategies in another Signal group conversation involving his spouse and sibling. In related developments, ex-staffers have come forward with information. have said that there’s a “culture of fear and toxicity” at the Pentagon.

If the Trump administration truly valued national security or held people accountable, Pete Hegseth would be gone," says Senator Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts to The News Pulse. "His idea of leadership involves blaming others like Waltz, yet it wasn’t Waltz who arranged for the Signal line installation in Hegseth’s office or brought his spouse, sibling, and attorney into conversations involving sensitive data... His actions compromised our nation's safety—this is extremely serious.

Trump told the Atlantic He believes that over the weekend, Hegseth will "get his act together" after having a "constructive conversation" with him previously. Fox News Host. Both Hegseth and Waltz were present at Trump’s cabinet meeting on Wednesday, highlighting the administration's achievements in terms of national security. "In these first 100 days under your guidance—with respect and fortitude—we have assembled this impressive team," Waltz stated. "It is truly an honor to be part of this administration serving you, Mr. President."

Additionally, Wong, an experienced diplomat, is departing from the administration. He was named deputy national security advisor and had earlier worked during Trump’s first term as a special envoy for North Korea.

The White House declined to provide comments for this story when contacted.

The Signal episode wasn't Waltz’s sole weakness. Many within Trump’s circle had viewed him for quite some time as being more aggressive towards Russia, Iran, and China compared to Trump. This often led to disagreements with other White House staff members. Wall Street Journal reported .

His presence at the White House became a magnet for far-right activists, such as Laura Loomer, an outspoken conservative pundit who reportedly has Trump’s trust. Loomer has voiced disapproval towards Waltz and allegedly claimed he filled the National Security Council with "neocons" and individuals not sufficiently committed to the "America First" platform. On Thursday, she took to social media to openly celebrate Waltz’s departure, posting “SCALP.”

Following Waltz’s departure from the National Security Council, none of the three House Republicans chosen by Trump for his second administration still hold their initial roles. Ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz, who stepped down from Congress after being nominated as attorney general, withdrew his nomination in November due to escalating legal troubles. Additionally, in March, Stefanik had to abandon her bid to serve as the U.S. representative at the United Nations because there were worries about losing her crucial vote, considering the tight margin held by House Republicans.

Waltz’s downfall occurs amidst Trump’s attempts to present a more consistent administration following a tenure marked by frequent changes at senior levels. During his initial four-year period, Trump went through four National Security Advisers, including Michael Flynn, who was dismissed less than a month post-inauguration in 2017 due to misinformation provided to Vice President Mike Pence regarding interactions with the Russian ambassador.

Although Waltz managed to stay in office for a longer period, his time in charge was equally tumultuous—he faced intense outside pressure from supporters of Trump and had to deal with the fallout from a detrimental data breach that shook the national security community. On Thursday morning, he was seen on TV announcing a fresh critical minerals pact with Ukraine. A few hours afterward, it became clear that his departure was imminent.

—Reporting by Eric Cortellessa

Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@The News Pulse .