In a surprising move on Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, will be nominated as the next United States ambassador to the United Nations. The announcement came amid growing scrutiny over Waltz’s involvement in the so-called "Signalgate" scandal, which has cast a shadow over the early days of Trump’s second presidency.
Trump made the announcement via his social media platform Truth Social, praising Waltz for his dedication to national interests. “Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role,” Trump stated, notably omitting any reference to the controversy surrounding Waltz.
The decision follows reports that both Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, are stepping down from their current roles, marking the first significant departures from Trump’s Cabinet just over 100 days into his term. To fill the immediate gap, Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting National Security Adviser.
The Signalgate Scandal
The controversy known as Signalgate centers on a serious security breach involving a Signal messaging group chat used by senior Trump administration officials to discuss imminent military strikes in Yemen. In March, Waltz took “full responsibility” for mistakenly adding Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the confidential chat. This error exposed sensitive information about planned US military operations, including detailed timelines of airstrikes targeting Houthi militants.
The leak caused a major embarrassment for the administration. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a participant in the chat, inadvertently shared classified strike details, which were then published by Goldberg. Initially, the White House dismissed the reports as a “hoax,” and Trump downplayed the incident as a minor “glitch.” Waltz himself insisted that no critical locations, sources, or war plans were compromised.
Implications and Next Steps
Waltz, a 51-year-old former Republican congressman from Florida, has been a key figure in Trump’s national security team. His reassignment to the UN ambassador role appears to be a strategic move to manage the fallout from Signalgate while retaining his expertise within the administration.
As of now, it remains unclear who will permanently replace Waltz as National Security Adviser. Reuters sources suggest Steve Witkoff, known for his involvement in Middle East affairs and the Ukraine conflict, as a possible candidate.
The appointment of Waltz to the UN comes at a critical time for US foreign policy, with ongoing challenges in global diplomacy and security. Observers will be watching closely to see how Waltz transitions from a national security role to representing the US on the international stage.
This development marks a notable reshuffle in Trump’s Cabinet and underscores the administration’s efforts to stabilize its leadership amid early controversies. Further updates are expected as the nomination process unfolds.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse