National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is leaving his White House Post, although after his departure, President Trump announced that he plans to nominate him to become an ambassador to the United Nations.
Sources said that it was not clear that Alex Wong, the deputy of Waltz, would remain in the National Security Council.
The President also said in a social media post that in the interim, State Secretary Marco Rubio will serve as a National Security Advisor. The role of the ambassador will require to confirm Waltz by the Senate.
“I am happy to announce that I will nominate Mike Waltz to be the Ambassador of the next United States to the United Nations,” Mr. Trump wrote“Mike Waltz has worked hard to keep the interests of our country first in uniforms, Congress and as my National Security Advisor.
Waltz Said On X, “I am deeply honored for continuing my service to President Trump and our great nation.”
Sources told CBS News that it was a final minute decision to nominate the United Nations Ambassador. Mr. Trump decided on Thursday morning, sources said, but there was a previous discussion about transferring Waltz out of NSC.
Rubio and Waltz held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the infection in roles, several sources told CBS News. This was not clear, even for some senior advisors at the State Department and the White House, when Rubio will take over as an interim National Security Advisor.
State Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau was not informed before the news broke that Waltz would leave the NSC, the sources said, and the circle of the people going to Waltz was very small.
Many factors led the change. It was believed in the White House that Waltz did not enough to vet NSC employees, in addition to the lack of a good fit between the signal saga and Waltz and the senior team.
But Mr. Trump respects Waltz, sources said, and, unlike some figures in Mr. Trump’s first term, Waltz was not unknowingly excluded. Instead, he was given a high-profile new post. Journalist Mark Helperin reported the first departure.
The State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce learned about the President’s decision to appoint Rubio as an interim national security advisor during a briefing on Thursday. When asked by a reporter how long he can serve in the situation, Bruce replied, “It is clear that I have only heard this from you.”
Sources said that the President’s Chief of Staff Susie Wils held several talks on the Waltz case on Thursday.
In March, Waltz came under investigation after putting together Signal chat And accidentally included Atlantic Jeffrey GoldbergDisclose Discussion with top national security officials about plans For a military strike on the fighter target in Yemen. Goldberg Published His account, and he initially abandoned the operational details, but after the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard Director and CIA Director John Ratcliffe shared any classified information on chat, Goldberg also published information that included strikes and arms packages.
Waltz accepted the authenticity of reporting behind the closed doors, the White House officials argued Should he resignBut Waltz never proposed, and Mr. Trump did not ask him to step down at that time. Publicly, President Trump indicated his support for Waltz by calling him a “a good man”, which “learned a lesson.”
A source familiar with the situation in the National Security Council said that the President feels that sufficient time has passed after the signal incident that the departure of Waltz and Wong can be prepared as part of the reorganization. The President was hesitant to exclude the voltage on the notion that doing so could be seen as bending under external pressure.
Wong, arrived by phone, refused to comment.
To be an ambassador to Shri Trump’s United Nations, Waltz will face the confirmation of the Senate. Virginia’s Democratic Sen Mark Warner said about the incident of Waltz and Signal that he credited him “We could lose pilots if it was out to accept the huge mistake made with that very sensitive information.” However, when a reporter was asked about the confirmation of the Senate that Waltz would face a nominee, Warner replied, “I think it will be very cruel. Let’s see what happens.”
Texas’s GOP Sen John Cornin expressed confidence on Thursday that Waltz would be confirmed and told reporters, “I am happy that he is still going to be a part of the administration.”
Wong first served as Deputy Special Representative to North Korea in Trump Administration and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Department of External Affairs. Announcing his appointment, Mr. Trump said that Wong helped in the conversation His summit With North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
It is unlikely that American messenger for the Middle East Steve Witcofofy will be tapped for a permanent National Security Advisor job, two sources said. The speculation among Mr. Trump’s colleagues on Thursday was that the Deputy Chief Staff Stephen Miller of the White House could be considered, or possibly senior director for the President’s Deputy Assistant and Anti -Terrorism Ced Gorka, because they are very strongly behind the mission of Shri Trump. Special President Envoy Rick Grenal publicly stated that he did not want posts for special missions.
Waltz and Wong’s departure come after at least six NSC employees. Removed in early AprilA source said that the previous firing right-wing personality Laura Lumor visited the Oval Office and presented Mr. Trump with opposition research on NSC employees, which she sees as a neocons, or is not sufficiently loyal to the President, a source said.
Camilla Skik, Margaret Brainon and Veesia Jiang contributed to this report.
