Washington (TDI): Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz is to leave his position — the first major departure of the president’s new term — after being embroiled in a scandal over a chat group leak.
Trump said in a statement that he would be nominating Waltz to be the next US ambassador to the UN, adding that “he has worked hard to put our country’s interests first.”
Earlier in the day, media reports suggested that Trump had decided to force Waltz out of his White House post.
Trump’s choice of Marco Rubio as Waltz’s temporary replacement will mark the first time since Henry Kissinger in the 1970s that a single individual will hold both the roles of secretary of state and national security adviser.
Mike Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong were both set to leave the White House, according to US media.
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The 51-year-old former congressman from Florida lasted just over hundred days of Trump’s second term.
Trump cycled through four national security advisers during his first term.
Waltz showed no sign that he knew of his looming departure when appearing early Wednesday on Fox News, where he hailed the new US minerals agreement with Ukraine.
“Nobody said the deal could be done. President Trump said ‘get it done’,” Waltz stated.
Saying President Trump has boosted American military recruitment, he the leadership is at finest, led by our commander in chief, who loves the forces and they love him.”
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Waltz was also attended Trump’s televised cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
A former Special Forces officer, Waltz was considered as a moderate voice in the White House when he was appointed, but reportedly clashed with other officials over his hawkish stance against Iran and Russia.
