Trump Fires National Security Adviser Mike Waltz After Signalgate/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. mansour/ Morning Edition/ National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is exiting the Trump administration following backlash over a Signal messaging mishap involving military strike planning. Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, is also departing as part of a broader staff reshuffle. Internal pressure and MAGA-aligned critics reportedly accelerated Waltz’s removal.
Trump Ousts Mike Waltz After Signal App Controversy: Quick Looks
- National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to leave administration amid internal pressure
- Waltz added journalist to Signal chat about classified military plans
- Deputy Alex Wong also expected to exit the National Security Council
- Episode triggered criticism from far-right Trump allies, including Laura Loomer
- Trump previously defended Waltz but reportedly lost confidence behind the scenes
- No classified info shared, but blunder damaged Waltz’s influence
- Waltz is the first major departure of Trump’s second term
- Loomer takes credit for ouster in celebratory post on social media
Deep Look: National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Forced Out After Signal Chat Leak
WASHINGTON — Mike Waltz is out as White House national security adviser, marking the first major staff departure of President Donald Trump’s second term. His removal follows weeks of controversy surrounding a leaked Signal chat that included sensitive discussions about a U.S. military strike in Yemen.
The departure, confirmed by two people familiar with the matter, underscores growing internal tensions as Trump enters the second year of his presidency with a sharpened focus on ideological loyalty and internal discipline.
Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, is also expected to step down, further reshaping the top leadership of the National Security Council. Neither the White House nor the NSC has commented publicly on the personnel changes.
Signal Chat Controversy at Center of Exit
Waltz, a former three-term Florida congressman and Army Green Beret, found himself at the center of a political firestorm in March when it was revealed that he had inadvertently added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to an encrypted group chat used to coordinate a March 15 military operation targeting Houthi militants in Yemen.
The chat reportedly included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared real-time details of warplane launches and bomb drops. While no classified material was confirmed to be leaked, the incident was widely seen as a serious lapse in judgment.
Waltz took responsibility for assembling the chat group but maintained that he didn’t know how Goldberg was added or who had invited him.
“It was a mistake,” officials said at the time. “But one that caused no operational harm.”
MAGA Allies Pressure Trump for a Purge
While Trump and his press team initially stood by Waltz, pressure from within the president’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) circle intensified. Far-right influencer Laura Loomer directly lobbied Trump in the Oval Office to remove aides she viewed as disloyal to the movement.
Loomer reportedly accused Waltz of surrounding himself with “neocon” Republicans and foreign policy officials who were “not MAGA enough.” Her influence proved decisive as she launched a public campaign for Waltz’s removal.
As reports of Waltz’s expected exit circulated Thursday morning, Loomer claimed credit in a single-word post on X:
“SCALP.”
Waning Influence and Internal Isolation
Waltz’s credibility took further hits after he was excluded from critical staffing decisions and internal planning. Despite his public appearances — including one Thursday morning to promote a U.S.-Ukraine minerals agreement — his role had diminished behind the scenes.
Trump, who initially resisted removing Waltz to avoid fueling media narratives of disarray, appeared to shift his strategy. With 100 days into his second term behind him, insiders say the president is now more willing to enact sweeping personnel changes, especially when loyalty is in question.
“He was already on thin ice,” one White House source said. “The Signal episode just cracked it.”
What Comes Next
The ouster leaves a vacancy at the helm of the National Security Council at a time of intensifying global tensions and ongoing U.S. military operations in the Middle East. Trump is reportedly considering real estate executive and special envoy Steve Witkoff as Waltz’s potential replacement — a signal of the president’s preference for trusted confidants over establishment figures.
Waltz becomes the first senior official removed in Trump’s second term, and insiders suggest more staff changes may follow as the White House refines its national security approach and consolidates control over internal factions.
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