President Donald Trump made a significant change to his national security team on Thursday, May 1, 2025, by replacing Mike Waltz with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the interim national security adviser. This move marks the first significant adjustment in Trump’s administration since he began his second term in January, following a challenging period for his national security apparatus. Mike Waltz is set to be nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump made the announcement through a social media post, emphasizing Waltz’s service background and contributions to national interests. The announcement surprised many, including State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, who learned of the change from reporters during a press briefing. Bruce commented that the past 100 days felt like “hanging onto a freaking bullet train.”
Waltz, a retired Army Green Beret and former Florida congressman, faced criticism within the White House, particularly after an incident in March involving the inadvertent inclusion of The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief in a private Signal chat about a bombing campaign in Yemen. This security breach, referred to as “Signalgate,” impacted Waltz’s standing with the president. During a Cabinet meeting, Trump underscored the need for secure settings for sensitive discussions. The Atlantic’s editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, later published details of the Signal chat.
With Rubio’s appointment, he becomes the first since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s to hold both the Secretary of State and National Security Adviser roles simultaneously. Trump expressed confidence in Rubio, stating, “When I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved.” This change follows Trump’s 100-day milestone in his second term, a point at which he aimed to make cabinet-level adjustments.
According to sources, Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, known for his expertise in Asia, is also being ousted. Wong previously served in the State Department, focusing on North Korea during Trump’s first term. This personnel shift caps a month of turbulence for Trump’s national security team, which has seen numerous dismissals, including National Security Council staff, the National Security Agency director, and several Pentagon appointees.
The dismissals began after right-wing activist Laura Loomer presented Trump with a list of allegedly disloyal NSC members. Consequently, four senior directors overseeing intelligence, technology, international organizations, and legislative affairs were dismissed, despite having conservative backgrounds. Some NSC staffers were disappointed that Waltz did not defend his team more forcefully against these removals, which have led to a shortage of national security expertise.
Waltz’s departure could concern U.S. allies in Europe and Asia who viewed him as supportive of alliances like NATO. Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance defended Waltz’s tenure, stating he was brought on for significant reforms within the NSC. Vance emphasized Waltz’s ongoing trust from him and the president, framing the UN ambassador role as a transition beyond NSC reforms.
The UN ambassador position has been vacant since Trump retracted the nomination of Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, whose vote is crucial in the narrowly Republican-held House of Representatives. The change in national security leadership is a pivotal moment for Trump’s administration, with Rubio’s appointment consolidating significant foreign policy power in the hands of a former critic turned ally.
Rubio has pledged to address security breaches like the Signal chat leak and promises reforms to prevent future incidents. Trump has yet to announce a permanent replacement for Waltz as national security adviser, but names like Steve Witkoff and Richard Grenell have been mentioned in Washington circles.
