President Donald Trump has dismissed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and his principal deputy, Alex Wong, in what sources say marks the first major shakeup of Trump’s second term.
The decision follows controversy over a sensitive communications breach involving the encrypted messaging app Signal.
Waltz, a former Florida congressman and Army veteran, came under scrutiny in March when it was revealed that a journalist from The Atlantic was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat discussing planned U.S. military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
The leak sparked bipartisan concern over national security protocols.
Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), demanded accountability.
“The person who really should go is the secretary of Defense,” Blumenthal said, referring to Pete Hegseth, who also participated in the chat. “Mike Waltz is the fall guy here.”
While Trump initially defended Waltz, calling him “a good man,” sources say the president viewed the removal as inevitable. The move was reportedly delayed to portray it as part of a broader West Wing reorganization.
Waltz remained loyal in his final days, praising Trump’s leadership during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. “It’s an honor to serve you, Mr. President,” he said.
The president is set to depart for Saudi Arabia on May 11 for his first major foreign tour of the term, and Waltz’s exit clears the way for a reset of the national security team ahead of the high-stakes trip.
The firings were first reported by journalist Mark Halperin.
