Trump Dismisses Concerns Over Waltz Reassignment Amid Fallout from Signal Scandal
WASHINGTON, D.C. In a heated exchange aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump downplayed concerns over the reassignment of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, sharply criticizing a reporter who pressed him on whether the move was linked to Waltz’s recent involvement in a sensitive security breach.
Two months after a controversial incident in which Waltz reportedly added a journalist to a classified Signal group chat discussing military plans targeting Houthi rebels, Trump announced that Waltz would leave his post as National Security Advisor to become the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Despite speculation that the move signals a loss of confidence in Waltz, Trump insisted it was not a demotion. “He was fine, and where he is, he’ll do a good job,” the president said. “To me, personally, if I had a choice… I’d rather have that [UN] job than the other.”
Critics, however, have questioned the optics of the shift, especially given that Waltz had faced bipartisan scrutiny following the Signal incident an unforced error that raised serious concerns about the handling of classified military communications at the highest levels of government.
Asked if Waltz had voluntarily stepped down, Trump firmly rejected the notion. “He didn’t resign. I just moved him. There was no resignation,” Trump clarified.
The president’s tone quickly turned combative when the questioning continued, blasting the media for what he described as sensationalism. “You people are so bad… You’re trying to make a big deal out of something that’s not. That’s why nobody watches you anymore,” Trump snapped at the Hearst reporter.
Waltz’s nomination to the UN initially expected to go to Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who has since opted to seek re-election will likely proceed despite criticism. Though Democratic senators have warned of a “brutal” confirmation process, the Republican-controlled Senate is widely expected to confirm him.
The administration has not provided additional details about the internal review of the Signal breach or whether disciplinary measures were considered prior to Waltz’s reassignment.
The National Security Advisor role is currently being filled on an acting basis by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a dual role that underscores the ongoing instability within Trump’s second-term national security team.
While the president seeks to portray the reshuffle as routine, the underlying circumstances particularly the potential compromise of sensitive military planning continue to fuel doubts about the administration’s handling of national security.
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Trump Dismisses Concerns Over Waltz Reassignment Amid Fallout from Signal Scandal