Mike Waltz out as Trump's national security advisor
Mike Waltz is out as the national security advisor, along with his deputy. Chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin reports the latest on the ousting and what's likely to come.
President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other staffers are out at the National Security Council, sources confirmed to Fox News.
Democrats quickly reacted to the news during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
"I'm not surprised that there is turmoil after the Signal gate fiasco, but I think there's a lot more. In the words of the late and great John McCain, there's more shoes to drop off the centipede," Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, told Fox News.
"Mike Waltz has left the chat," the former Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn, said on X, in a nod to Waltz accidentally adding The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat where war plans were reportedly discussed.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told Fox News on Thursday that the Trump administration "should fire him, but they're firing the wrong guy."
"They should be firing Hegseth," Schumer said before adding, "Everyone knew that Hegseth was the wrong guy for DOD, given his background, given his attitude towards women, but given the fact that he had no experience and had never shown an ability to run an organization."
U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, left, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stand as President Donald Trump meets French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24, 2025. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Waltz should step down and agreed with Schumer that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reportedly shared war plans in a second Signal chat with family members, should be fired by the Trump administration.
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"The Trump administration is the most incompetent administration ever assembled, particularly as it relates to the defense and national security apparatus. Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified secretary of defense ever. He's got to go. And if he doesn't have the dignity to resign, Trump should fire him. Now the National Security Advisor is out. He's the first person to leave. He will certainly not be the last," Jeffries told Fox News.
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during his press conference at the U.S. Capitol on April 28, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Jeffries said National Security Advisor Mike Waltz's removal from the Trump administration will "not be the last." (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who is a Navy combat veteran, also shifted blame to Hegseth, telling Fox News that the "most toubling" part of the Signal controversy wasn't "accidentally putting a journalist on there," but "sharing incredibly sensitive information about a strike off of an aircraft carrier, putting pilots at risk."
"I think they fired the wrong guy," Kelly added.
Sources told Fox News that Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong are out, with additional names likely to come. Democrats on Thursday said they would not be the last.
Hours after Waltz was ousted as national security advisor, Trump named the former U.S. representative as ambassador to the United Nations. Rep. Elise Stefanik withdrew her nomination for the post earlier this year, so she could hold onto her House seat to protect the Republican Party's slim majority.
"I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations," Trump said on Truth Social.
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"From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News' Jacqui Heinrich, Tyler Olson, Kelly Phares and Monica Oroz contributed to this report.
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