BBC:
Trump ousts Waltz as national security adviser and nominates him for UN post
Bernd Debusmann Jr
BBC News, Washington DC
Ali Abbas Ahmadi
BBC News
Getty Images
Mike Waltz was President Trump's closest adviser on national security issues
US President Donald Trump has removed Mike Waltz from his post as national security adviser, and will nominate him as ambassador to the United Nations.
In a post on social media, Trump thanked Waltz for his work and said he would be temporarily replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will continue as America's top diplomat.
Waltz had faced criticism for mistakenly adding a journalist to a chat group where sensitive military plans were discussed - a political embarrassment likely to feature during confirmation hearings for the UN post.
The former Florida congressman is the first senior member of the administration to leave the White House in Trump's second term.
"From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
"I know he will do the same in his new role."
Waltz posted a short statement on X, alongside a screenshot of the announcement by the president.
"I'm deeply honoured to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation," he wrote.
According to the BBC's US partner CBS News, Trump decided to nominate Waltz as UN ambassador just hours before the announcement on Thursday.
'Well there you go' - watch moment spokeswoman learns Waltz news
Multiple sources told the network he was ousted because of the Signal situation and a perception in the White House that he did not properly vet National Security Council staff, among other reasons.
But the sources said Trump respects Waltz so he was given a soft landing and a high-profile new post.
However, the BBC spoke to several US officials - who wished to remain anonymous - and they suggested the Trump administration believed Waltz might struggle to be confirmed by the Senate, allowing the president to get rid of him completely without having to fire him.
Waltz has been under scrutiny since he acknowledged in March mistakenly adding the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a group chat on Signal with top US security officials.
Confidential plans for a military strike on Yemen's Houthis were discussed on the message chain, whose members included Waltz, Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
There was uncertainty on Thursday over the fate of Waltz's deputy, Alex Wong, a seasoned foreign policy hand from Trump's first term who was also on the Signal chat.
Wong was asked about the leak during an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme on Wednesday. He said the administration had been "very successful" in taking on Yemen's Houthis and "the president led on that".
Mike Waltz was President Trump's closest adviser on national security issues
US President Donald Trump has removed Mike Waltz from his post as national security adviser, and will nominate him as ambassador to the United Nations.
In a post on social media, Trump thanked Waltz for his work and said he would be temporarily replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will continue as America's top diplomat.
Waltz had faced criticism for mistakenly adding a journalist to a chat group where sensitive military plans were discussed - a political embarrassment likely to feature during confirmation hearings for the UN post.
The former Florida congressman is the first senior member of the administration to leave the White House in Trump's second term.
"From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
"I know he will do the same in his new role."
Waltz posted a short statement on X, alongside a screenshot of the announcement by the president.
"I'm deeply honoured to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation," he wrote.
According to the BBC's US partner CBS News, Trump decided to nominate Waltz as UN ambassador just hours before the announcement on Thursday.
'Well there you go' - watch moment spokeswoman learns Waltz news
Multiple sources told the network he was ousted because of the Signal situation and a perception in the White House that he did not properly vet National Security Council staff, among other reasons.
But the sources said Trump respects Waltz so he was given a soft landing and a high-profile new post.
However, the BBC spoke to several US officials - who wished to remain anonymous - and they suggested the Trump administration believed Waltz might struggle to be confirmed by the Senate, allowing the president to get rid of him completely without having to fire him.
Waltz has been under scrutiny since he acknowledged in March mistakenly adding the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a group chat on Signal with top US security officials.
Confidential plans for a military strike on Yemen's Houthis were discussed on the message chain, whose members included Waltz, Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
There was uncertainty on Thursday over the fate of Waltz's deputy, Alex Wong, a seasoned foreign policy hand from Trump's first term who was also on the Signal chat.
Wong was asked about the leak during an interview with the BBC's Newsnight programme on Wednesday. He said the administration had been "very successful" in taking on Yemen's Houthis and "the president led on that".
Waltz theoretically still has Cabinet rank...but he's been moved way out to New York and no longer part of the Decision Making loop.
ReplyDeleteAlex.Wong position has always been dicey..
As an American Chinese , though US born, Alex Wong's been even More MAGA than most MAGA... a bit like the situation with Malaysia's Firdaus Wong wakakaka..
GOOD....TIME TO CLEAN UP HAMAS - GAZA, IRAN, YEMEN & SOON HAMAS SUPPORTING MALAYSIA PM LIKE TURKEY ERDOGAN....ABRAHAM ACCORD SIGNED WHEN THESE BROTHERHOOD OF ISLAM AND SHIA SENT TO STONE AGE!!......PAKISTAN GIVEN A WARNING WITH THEIR SUPPORT OF TALIBAN. STUPID MALAYSIA ENTERTAIN THE TALIBAN EDUCATION TEAM...OUT WITH BENDERA JALUR 2 BINTANG BANGSAT FADILAH - SACK THE EDUCATION MINISTER...IGPIG PI SUMBAT KE LOKUP FOR INTERROGATION THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND ZAMBRY TOO....TO HELL WITH ALL THESE USELESS HAMAS FACIST RACIST TERRORIST LOVER OF MALAYSIAL....
ReplyDeleteDJT has a habit to use people for short term hatchet job. Don't be surprise when UN going down in a few months or possibly a trigger for a remaking...
ReplyDelete~~~~~
https://t.me/veryreasonable/28531
Primo position Mike Waltz was just appointed to.
https://t.me/codymello777/45946