President Trump announced the removal of National Security Adviser Michael Waltz on Thursday, appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio as interim replacement. Waltz has been nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
This marks the first major staff shake-up of Trump’s second term—one he had hoped to avoid.
Waltz’s position had been precarious for weeks, especially after he mistakenly added a journalist to a Signal group chat discussing a classified operation in Yemen. Even prior to the leak, many inside the administration saw Waltz as too aggressive for a president focused on pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran and easing tensions with Russia.
Rubio will now serve concurrently as Secretary of State and National
Security Adviser—a dual role last held by Henry Kissinger during the Nixon and Ford administrations.
Security Adviser—a dual role last held by Henry Kissinger during the Nixon and Ford administrations.
Looking Ahead: The search for a permanent national security adviser is expected to be contentious, as Trump's inner circle remains divided on how to address key foreign policy challenges, including China, Russia, and Iran.

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