Washinhton, 2 May (H.S.): U.S. President Donald Trump replaced National Security Advisor Mike Waltz amid the Signalgate scandal, appointing him as ambassador to the United Nations instead. This marks the first significant cabinet shake-up of Trump’s new term. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will temporarily take over Waltz’s responsibilities following his exit.

Trump commended Waltz for his dedication to national interests, emphasizing his service in the military and Congress. However, Waltz’s tenure grew precarious after a leak involving a group chat about U.S. military actions against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Despite public support from Trump, Waltz reportedly struggled with confidence and tensions arose over his assertive views on Russia and Iran, which conflicted with Trump’s strategic direction.

As the U.S. seeks a quick ceasefire in Ukraine and renegotiates with Iran, Waltz’s hawkish stance became increasingly problematic. Congressional Democrats have intensified scrutiny on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, implicated in the Signal chat scandal for disclosing military operations.

Trump has so far supported Hegseth despite the controversy. Waltz will need Senate confirmation for his new post, keeping the scandal in the spotlight. Speculation surrounds Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul chosen by Trump for negotiations with Russia and Iran, as a potential long-term successor for the National Security Advisor role, historically held by influential figures like Henry Kissinger.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar