U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday the replacement of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz amid the “Signalgate” scandal concerning a leaked chat group. Waltz will now be appointed as ambassador to the United Nations. In a significant cabinet reshuffle, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as the interim national security advisor following Waltz’s departure. Trump praised Waltz for prioritizing national interests, highlighting his military and congressional background. However, the former special forces officer had been under scrutiny since March when he accidentally included the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic in a discussion about U.S. strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels on the messaging app Signal. Waltz expressed gratitude for his continued service under Trump, despite growing tensions regarding his hawkish views on Russia and Iran, which conflicted with Trump’s diplomatic approach. This situation was aggravated by the ongoing Ukraine crisis and renewed negotiations with Iran.
Democrats have intensified pressure on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who allegedly disclosed U.S. strike timings within the same Signal chat, prompting calls for accountability and Senate investigations. While Trump supports Hegseth, he dismissed the scandal as a “witch hunt.” Waltz’s new UN role also requires Senate confirmation, ensuring continued spotlight on the Signalgate issue. Reports suggest that real estate mogul Steve Witkoff may be considered to succeed Waltz, following a tradition of prominent figures serving as National Security Advisors in U.S. history.
