The National Security Council (NSC) has undergone a significant personnel change with the removal of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, after a confidential Signal chat was mistakenly made public. This development has created a stir in the White House and raised questions about the administration's internal dynamics as President Donald Trump prepares to make a public statement on the incident.
The leak, first reported by The Atlantic, exposed a conversation among top officials, including Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, about a potential military strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The unintended addition of The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to the chat led to the exposure of critical details, such as the timing of the strikes and the weapons to be used.
Waltz accepted responsibility for the error during a Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham, stating, “I take full responsibility. I built the group. It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it.” Despite his acknowledgment, doubts about Waltz's continued role within the NSC had been circulating, with some predicting his resignation.
President Trump, however, expressed public support for Waltz, referring to him as “a good man” who had “learned a lesson.” On April 3, Trump confirmed that several NSC staffers had been let go in the wake of the chat's disclosure, citing reasons such as incompetence, disloyalty, or dislike by the administration. He also defended his national security team's overall performance, particularly with the situation in Yemen, and described the departures as part of a broader NSC reorganization.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries provided a terse comment on the shake-up, stating, “The National Security Advisor Waltz is out. He’s the first. He certainly won’t be the last.” This suggests the possibility of further changes within the national security structure.
Wong's role in the controversy was related to his efforts in coordinating the proposed military action. A message from Waltz to the Signal group indicated Wong's involvement in assembling a "tiger team" to follow up on action items from a Situation Room meeting.
As the administration deals with the fallout of this leak, the White House has yet to disclose specific details regarding the identities of other staff members who have been dismissed. Trump has made it clear that the removal of certain individuals is a routine aspect of maintaining an effective and loyal team, adding that no classified information was shared in the leaked Signal chat.
The sudden removal of Waltz and Wong indicates a pivotal moment within the Trump administration’s national security framework. The incident underscores the importance of operational security and the potential consequences of information mishandling. With the president's reassurance, the focus remains on how the NSC will adapt and whether additional changes are forthcoming.