President Trump has ousted his national security adviser following a leaked Signal chat about Yemen—triggering a top-level reshuffle and handing Marco Rubio temporary command of U.S. foreign intelligence strategy.
At a Glance
- Trump removes Mike Waltz and deputy Alex Wong from national security posts
- Signal Gate involved leak of internal chat on Houthi strikes in Yemen
- Marco Rubio named interim national security adviser
- Waltz accepts responsibility; no classified intel reportedly compromised
- Trump nominates Waltz for U.N. ambassador despite blunder
Trump Reorganizes National Security Team
President Donald Trump has initiated a major shake-up within the National Security Council in the wake of a damaging communications breach dubbed “Signal Gate.” According to Fox News, former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong were removed after it was revealed that a journalist had been mistakenly included in an encrypted Signal chat about potential U.S. military actions targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Trump moved swiftly to fill the vacuum, appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting national security adviser. The shift marks the first major personnel change of Trump’s second term and signals a tightening of internal communications protocols across national security teams.
Watch Fox’s coverage at “Waltz Out After Signal Leak”.
Signal Gate Fallout and Accountability
The incident has been met with sharp criticism but no formal criminal allegations. Waltz has taken public responsibility, telling Fox News, “I take full responsibility. I built the group. It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
Despite the blunder, the Trump administration insists no classified materials were disclosed. A DHS spokesperson declined to elaborate, stating, “We are not going to respond to reporting from anonymous sources.”
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries commented on the broader implications of the shake-up, stating, “The National Security Advisor Waltz is out. He’s the first. He certainly won’t be the last.”
Political Tensions and Strategic Realignment
The event has intensified partisan tensions, with Democrats portraying the reshuffle as evidence of instability. Senator Jeanne Shaheen and others have expressed concern about decision-making under pressure, citing potential lapses in information security protocols.
Still, the White House appears to be doubling down on Waltz’s value. President Trump announced on Truth Social that Waltz would be nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations—a move suggesting confidence in his overall leadership, despite the misstep. As reported by Deadline, the administration views the incident as an isolated error rather than a disqualifying event.
According to Reuters, internal reviews are now underway to reassess digital communications safeguards, and further staffing adjustments are likely in the coming weeks.
With Rubio temporarily steering the ship and new digital protocols in development, the administration insists it’s taking firm steps to prevent another Signal Gate—while attempting to project continuity in U.S. national security strategy.
