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Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong has reportedly been dismissed as well
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has been fired, Fox News reported on Thursday, citing its sources. The White House has not made any public comments on the issue.
Waltz was among the National Security Council’s “other staffers,” who got caught in the latest “purge,” the broadcaster said, adding that his deputy, Alex Wong, had been fired as well. The media outlet did not name the exact reason for the move but pointed to the criticism the national security adviser faced over his role in the so-called ‘Signalgate’ scandal in March.
At the time, The Atlantic reported it had accessed an internal chat involving members of US President Donald Trump’s administration, who were discussing attacks on Yemen’s Houthi militants. The leak was then attributed to Waltz, who mistakenly saved the contact of the magazine’s editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, under an incorrect name and then sent him an invite.
The national security adviser later admitted his mistake in an interview with Fox News. “I take full responsibility. I built the group. … It’s embarrassing. We’re going to get to the bottom of it,” he said at that time.
Later on Thursday, Axios reported that Waltz had not left his position yet, but is expected to do so in the near future. Waltz had not been removed as of Thursday morning, a White House official told the media outlet, although a Trump adviser and another official said that his departure is expected soon.
When asked about Waltz’ potential dismissal earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that “we are not going to respond to reporting from anonymous sources.” Trump himself told journalists in early April that certain National Security Council members had been fired following the incident but maintained that there were few of them and that he still trusted the team.
Politico identified Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff as a “leading pick” to replace Waltz. The official has been instrumental in Washington’s efforts to facilitate the peace process between Russia and Ukraine. He has visited Moscow several times lately, including for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
CNN journalist Alayna Treene claimed, citing her sources close to Witkoff, that the special envoy was not interested in taking over as national security advisor and that his team does not expect him to ultimately be picked by Trump for the role.
Last month, the media outlet also reported that US Vice President J.D. Vance and other senior officials suggested that Trump fire Waltz over the ‘Signalgate’ scandal. Back then, the president reportedly agreed that Waltz had “messed up,” but decided not to dismiss him. Trump had previously downplayed the controversy as a “witch hunt” and questioned the reliability of Signal. He also maintained that no classified information was compromised because of the leak.
