White House Reshuffle: Dispatching National Security Advisor Mike Waltz to the United Nations

Host LEILA FADEL:

President Trump's National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, is bouncing from the White House.

Host MICHEL MARTIN:

The announcement came after Waltz took the heat for accidentally adding a journalist to a secret chat with top Trump officials - a chat that discussed military plans brewing in Yemen. It's the first major shake-up in the White House staff since Trump assumed his second term.

Host LEILA FADEL:

Hey there, Franco. Give us the dirt on this one.

NPR Reporter FRANCO ORDOÑEZ:

The White House is trying to spin this positively. The president says he's tapping Waltz for the U.S. ambassador role at the United Nations, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio steps in as temporary national security adviser, both while continuing their existing duties. That's a rare combo, and it's unclear how it'll work out. As for who'll fill Waltz's shoes, they're staying hush-hush. And all this goes down just two weeks before Trump's first big foreign trip to the Middle East.

Since the president's first term, Waltz had faced his fair share of turbulence, particularly at the helm of the NSC, but this is the biggest shake-up for Trump 2.0. For Waltz, snagging the USUN post depends on approval from the U.S. Senate, which could draw attention back to the Signal debacle, making for a tricky confirmation process.

Host LEILA FADEL:

Oh, we've been going on about the Signal booboo for a month now. How did that pissing contest factor into this move?

NPR Reporter FRANCO ORDOÑEZ:

It was a huge embarrassment for the White House. Waltz admitted he goofed up by inadvertently inviting an Atlantic editor into a private Signal chat with top officials. They were discussing delicate plans for strikes against Yemen's Houthis. Initially, Trump defended Waltz by downplaying the breach as a mere "glitch," but Vice President JD Vance insisted otherwise during an interview on Fox News. He claimed that the Signal scandal wasn't the primary reason for this reshuffle.

Host LEILA FADEL:

So, what was Waltz's deal with the President and his crew?

NPR Reporter FRANCO ORDOÑEZ:

Waltz found himself on the sidelines in recent months. He was the traditional Republican hawk in the bunch, contrasting with some advisers pushing for America to step back from foreign entanglements. Trump loyalists never seemed to fully back Waltz, and he didn't always align with Trump's approach towards adversaries like Moscow. But don't worry, Vance said this wasn't the main driving force behind the change.

Host LEILA FADEL:

Before we wrap up, Franco, I heard there's an Army parade planned to celebrate Trump's birthday. That sounds... unusual. Spill the tea.

NPR Reporter FRANCO ORDOÑEZ:

Yeah, it's a big military parade marking the Army's 250th anniversary and, coincidentally, Trump's 79th birthday on June 14th. That's according to a source who wasn't authorized to speak publicly, but told my colleague Tom Bowman. The plan is waiting for White House approval.

The White House is trying to present the departure of President Trump's National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, in a positive light, stating that he is being considered for the U.S. ambassador role at the United Nations.
The Signal incident, where Waltz accidentally added a journalist to a secret chat containing military plans brewing in Yemen, has been a major point of controversy and could potentially complicate his Senate approval for the USUN post.
VICE PRESIDENT JD Vance claims that the Signal scandal wasn't the primary reason for Waltz's removal, but rather issues related to his policy-and-legislation approach and his relationship withTrump's closest advisers.
It has been reported that an Army parade is being planned to celebrate both the Army's 250th anniversary and President Trump's birthday on June 14th, the details of which are currently awaiting White House approval.