Major Shake-Up: Mike Waltz Exits as Trump's National Security Advisor

Mike Waltz's Departure from National Security Council

Washington: Reports indicate that Mike Waltz, the US National Security Advisor, is set to leave his position, as confirmed by various sources on Thursday.

Alongside him, his deputy, Alex Wong, will also depart.

According to Fox News, sources have revealed that Waltz and other personnel are exiting the National Security Council.

Waltz had been under scrutiny for several weeks due to his involvement in sharing military strategies regarding the Houthis in Yemen with a group of Trump administration officials via the messaging app Signal, which he established. This group included notable figures such as Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, was also part of this group and reported on the discussions, particularly concerning the weapons and timing of the planned strike on the Houthis by Secretary Hegseth.

The White House has not yet commented on these departures.

The Wall Street Journal noted that Trump and senior officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, had expressed frustration with Waltz prior to the Signal incident.

Critics pointed out that Waltz appointed aides who did not resonate with Trump's MAGA base and struggled to effectively communicate the President's national security agenda on television, which was once considered a strength of the former Florida Congressman. Additionally, he often held views that diverged from Trump's, particularly regarding Ukraine and Iran, leading to conflicts with other White House staff.

Despite the controversies, President Trump had publicly supported both Waltz and Hegseth, the latter facing scrutiny for another Signal group that included personal connections.

If confirmed, Waltz's exit, although occurring early in Trump's second term, will surpass the tenure of Mike Flynn, the first of four National Security Advisors during Trump's first term, who left after just 24 days.

Waltz's departure marks the first significant exit of a senior political appointee in Trump's second term, following several dismissals of military leaders, including General Timothy Haugh, head of the National Security Agency and US Cyber Command, along with other departures at the Pentagon.

Waltz, a former House Representative, was recognized for his role as the Republican co-chair of the India Caucus alongside Democrat Ro Khanna, and his appointment to the National Security Council was celebrated by those monitoring US-India relations.