President Donald Trump has fired Michael Waltz, the U.S. National Security Adviser, after a major security breach where a journalist was accidentally included in a classified Signal group chat.
The breach, now known as “Signalgate,” involved a discussion among 17 senior U.S. officials about military plans targeting the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, an editor at The Atlantic, later published the contents of the chat, causing a wave of public backlash and raising serious concerns about national security.
This incident is considered the first major personnel change of Trump’s second term.
Waltz’s mistake has led to widespread criticism within the national security community. His deputy, Alex Wong, is also facing scrutiny.
Although Waltz stayed in his position for several weeks after the blunder, his credibility was damaged, and his removal had been anticipated.
Despite the scandal, Waltz tried to shift the conversation to U.S. foreign policy achievements, including a minerals deal with Ukraine, during a Fox News appearance.
However, his attempt to explain how Goldberg was added to the group chat was unclear and awkward.
Trump was initially reluctant to fire Waltz, possibly to avoid giving Goldberg a political win.
However, after the incident’s fallout, Waltz was dismissed.
Sources suggest Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, may replace Waltz. The White House is expected to announce the decision soon.
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