Washington: US President Donald Trump ousted National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim replacement.
The abrupt dismissal caps weeks of turmoil within the National Security Council (NSC) and signals a shifting dynamic inside the Trump administration’s foreign policy ranks.
Trump announced via social media, praising Waltz for “putting our nation’s interests first” and revealing his intention to nominate the retired Army Green Beret and former congressman as the next US ambassador to the United Nations. The UN post has remained vacant since Trump withdrew the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik earlier this year.
The appointment of Rubio as acting national security adviser marks a historical rarity. He becomes the first person since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s to simultaneously serve as both secretary of state and national security adviser.
Waltz’s removal comes after mounting internal criticism and a damaging scandal involving the encrypted messaging app Signal.
I’m deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation. pic.twitter.com/FFTPjnIYkI
— Mike Waltz (@MikeWaltz47) May 1, 2025
In March, Waltz mistakenly included the editor of The Atlantic in a private Signal group discussing an imminent U.S. airstrike in Yemen. The editor published sensitive details of the internal deliberations, sparking outrage and questions over operational security.
During a subsequent cabinet meeting, Trump publicly signaled his displeasure, emphasizing the need to conduct such discussions in secure environments. Critics also claimed Waltz failed to effectively coordinate policy among the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence agencies.
Waltz leaves behind a thinned-out NSC, where staff morale has plummeted following a wave of firings over the past month. The shake-up began after right-wing activist Laura Loomer reportedly handed Trump a list of allegedly disloyal NSC staffers during a private White House meeting. Four senior directors were dismissed shortly afterward, including long-standing conservatives with no known opposition to Trump.
Since April 1, at least 20 additional staffers have been terminated without warning. Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong a former North Korea policy expert has also been forced out, adding to the leadership vacuum.
The shake-up may unsettle America’s allies, particularly in Europe and Asia, who saw Waltz as a steady hand and a proponent of traditional alliances like NATO.
