Was NSA Mike Waltz the first casualty of America’s war against the Houthis?

President Donald Trump has dismissed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, just over three months into his tenure, following a series of controversies—most notably a messaging mishap of including a journalist in discussions of a classified military operation. The dismissal marks the first major reshuffle of senior staff in Trump’s second term and underscores the enduring volatility of his national security team.

Waltz, a former Green Beret and vocal Trump ally in Congress, had drawn criticism for his hawkish approach and apparent inability to adapt to the president’s foreign policy goals, which gives importance to diplomatic outreach rather than military intervention. His position became untenable after what has been dubbed “Signalgate”: the accidental inclusion of The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a Signal group chat where senior officials discussed potential airstrikes on the Houthis in Yemen and referred to intelligence from Israeli sources.

Although Trump initially resisted pressure to sack Waltz as he did not want to be seen as capitulating to media outrage, the scandal never went away. The president was reportedly incensed less by the use of the unsecured Signal app than by the embarrassment of a journalist accessing sensitive national security discussions. Aides say Waltz’s failure was less about process and more about perception: he broke Trump’s cardinal rule, avoid bad press at all costs.

Trump announced the move on social media, stating Waltz would be nominated as US ambassador to the United Nations, a post initially offered to New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. That nomination was withdrawn later as the Republicans have only a wafer-thin majority in the House. 

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will assume the role of national security adviser temporarily, consolidating an unusual amount of power. Rubio now holds four key roles: secretary of state, national security adviser, acting head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and acting director of the National Archives — a consolidation not seen since Henry Kissinger’s controversial dual-hat period under Presidents Nixon and Ford as national security adviser and secretary of state. That experiment, however, was not a successful one.

The removal of Waltz comes at a delicate moment. Trump is preparing for his first major overseas trip of his second term to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern capitals. He is also navigating sensitive negotiations with both Iran and Russia. Waltz had already been sidelined in these diplomatic efforts. Instead, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Rubio have taken the lead on efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine and reignite nuclear talks with Tehran.

Waltz’s foreign policy positions often clashed with Trump’s instincts. While Trump has adopted a transactional, diplomacy-first approach to global affairs, Waltz continued to advocate for punitive measures, including harsh sanctions on Russia, something he reiterated just days before his dismissal. His ideological misalignment reportedly made him an awkward fit within Trump’s inner circle, which includes Vice President J.D. Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

Further compounding Waltz’s isolation was the influence of far-right activist Laura Loomer, who convinced Trump that elements within the National Security Council (NSC) were disloyal. Her intervention led to the removal of several staff members, including the NSA director, General Tim Haugh. Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong—a moderate Republican who had worked extensively on North Korea—is also expected to depart after being targeted by Loomer, who accused him of advancing Chinese interests due to his background.

While Trump refrained from firing Waltz immediately after the Signal incident, he distanced himself publicly. Waltz was asked to stay away from a high-profile rally two days ago in Michigan, celebrating Trump’s first 100 days in office. Behind closed doors, Trump reportedly sought views from Mar-a-Lago and White House allies about potential replacements, eventually settling on moving Waltz into a less visible diplomatic role.

The Waltz affair reflects broader issues in Trump’s administration, especially around staff discipline, internal loyalty and the blurred lines between formal policy mechanisms and informal channels like Signal. The casual use of unsecured apps for military planning has raised eyebrows among national security experts, although Trump appears unbothered by the procedural risks. His concern lies instead with the optics and political fallout of embarrassing leaks.

In reshaping his national security leadership, Trump has not yet named a permanent replacement for Waltz. Witkoff is considered a top contender, having played a central role in current diplomatic efforts. Other names floated include Trump loyalists like policy chief Stephen Miller, counterterrorism director Sebastian Gorka, and special envoy Richard Grenell. However, given the portfolio’s complexity and Trump’s preference for tight inner circles, any decision may be delayed until after his upcoming foreign trip.

Waltz’s brief tenure of 102 days was, however, longer than Mike Flynn’s ill-fated stint in Trump’s first term, but still emblematic of the churn that has plagued the NSC. Trump, in fact, had four national security advisers during his first term. Despite surviving an earlier purge linked to Loomer’s influence, Waltz ultimately lost his grip on both the role and the president’s trust. His final weeks were marked by growing irrelevance in policy discussions and diminishing influence among staff. Even at a cabinet meeting shortly before his dismissal, Waltz was seen using Signal, the same app that precipitated his fall, with messages visible from Rubio, Witkoff, Vance and Gabbard.

The timing of the reshuffle also serves a strategic purpose. With economic headlines dominated by rising tariffs, sluggish growth and unmet promises to tame inflation, the Waltz saga has offered a welcome distraction. As Trump grapples with the political fallout of the economic mess, the news cycle has momentarily shifted focus to a national security issue.

For now, Waltz has been handed a soft landing, while Trump moves on, as he often does, leaving behind a swirl of controversy and a reshuffled team. The enduring lesson from the episode is not about leaks, loyalty, or ideology, but about optics. As one insider put it: “Waltz’s sin wasn’t about evading record-keeping laws or leaving military planning visible to the wrong eyes. It was about letting a journalist in. And, in doing so, losing Trump’s trust.”

Middle East