National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and his agent Alex Wong will leave their posts at the Trump White House, according to multiple sources who are well-versed in their departure.
President Trump said Thursday that he was nominated for Waltz as the United Nations US ambassador. Interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as national security adviser, Trump said. The waltz must be confirmed by the Senate for the role of ambassador.
“We are pleased to announce that we will nominate Mike Waltz as the next U.S. ambassador for the United Nations,” Trump wrote. “Wearing uniforms on the battlefield, in Congress and as my national security adviser, Mike Waltz worked hard to put our country’s interests first. He would do the same in his new role.
“We are deeply honored to continue our service to President Trump and our great nation,” Waltz said in X.
State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce learned of the president’s decision to appoint Rubio interim national security adviser during the briefing she was giving. When asked by the reporter how long he would serve in that position, Bruce replied, “It’s obvious that I’ve heard this from you.”
Journalist Mark Halperin first reported his departure. Just like anything in the Trump White House, nothing is at the end until he announces it.
The president’s chief of staff, Susie Wills, is in conversation with some of the National Security Council staff today, sources said.
In March, the waltz was scrutinized after he put it together Signal chat And accidentally included the Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg,disclosure Discussion with national security officials about the plan For a military strike against the target of Houthi in Yemen. Goldberg made his account public and he initially omitted operational details, but denied that information classified in the chat was shared after John Ratcliffe, director of National Intelligence Director Tarshi Gabbard and director of the CIA. Goldberg has released that information.
White House officials discussed after Waltz admitted the credibility of the reporting in a closed room. Should he resign?however, Waltz never made the offer, so Trump did not ask him to resign at the time. Publicly, President Trump signaled his support for the Waltz by calling him a “good man” by calling him “learning lessons.”
Sources familiar with the situation at the National Security Council said the president believes it has been enough since the signal incident that Waltz and Wong’s departure could be framed as part of a reorganization. The president was hesitant to kick the waltz out about the perception that doing so could be seen as bent by external pressure.
When contacted by phone, Wong declined to comment.
Waltz will face confirmation from the Senate as Trump’s choice to become the UN ambassador. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said of the signal incident that he gave him credit by admitting a big mistake made with the very sensitive information that he might have lost the pilot. Nevertheless, when asked by the reporter about the Senate confirmation hearing, Waltz would face a candidate, Warner replied, “I think it’s pretty cruel. Let’s see what happens.”
Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn expressed confidence that the waltz will be confirmed Thursday, telling reporters, “I am pleased that he is still part of the administration.”
Wong served as the deputy special representative of North Korea during the first Trump administration and as the State Department’s deputy director of East Asia and Pacific Affairs. Trump said Wong helped negotiate when announcing his appointment. His summit With North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Two sources say it is unlikely that a US envoy to Middle Eastern Steve Witkov will be tapped for the job of a national security advisor. Speculation among Trump’s allies on Thursday was that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Steven Miller might be considered. Rick Grenell, the special envoy of the special president for special missions, publicly said he did not want a post.
Waltz and Wong’s departure came after at least six NSC staff members He was fired in early April. These previous firings came shortly after right-wing character Laura Rumer visited the oval office and presented Trump with opposition research on NSC staff.
Camilla Schick, Margaret Brennan and Weijia Jiang contributed to this report.
