Update: Mike Waltz has moved into a new role as a United Nations diplomat in the United Nations.
Mike Waltz, a former Florida House member of the House of Representatives, was removed from his position by President Donald Trump after a leak from a private signal chat that published sensitive debates about the US military’s potential actions against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The incident also led to several other staff members of the National Security Council (NSC) being rejected.
The former Green Beret Waltz admitted that he accidentally added the journalist to the encrypted chat. This included high-level officials such as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
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The leak first reported by Fox News sparked internal debate within the White House. Some officials reportedly urged the waltz to voluntarily step down to alleviate further controversy. Although Trump initially said he supported the Waltz and had successful recent military operations against the Hoosis, he ultimately decided to take him and other NSC members away, saying the administration will continue to part ways with individuals who do not exactly match their objectives.
According to a report by Politico, the incident raised broader concerns within the administration regarding protocols for handling classified sensitive communications.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that new safeguards are being implemented to prevent similar violations in the future. She confirmed that the administration is focusing on moving forward with its national security strategy, taking into account the issues resolved.
