Trump Shakes Up Administration, Moves Waltz to UN Amidst Signal App Fiasco, Rubio Gains Influence
In a significant reshuffling of his administration, US President Donald Trump has reassigned National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, sending him to the United Nations in New York to serve as the American ambassador. This move represents the most substantial personnel change within Trump’s government to date and offers a relatively face-saving exit for both parties, unlike some of the more tumultuous departures seen during Trump’s first term. The catalyst for Waltz’s departure appears to be the fallout from a group chat on the encrypted messaging app Signal.
The temporary replacement for Waltz will be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who will now hold both positions, drawing him even closer into Trump’s inner circle. Rubio will advise the President on matters of national security and foreign policy, essentially acting as an international crisis manager. This arrangement is a rare one; the last person to simultaneously hold the roles of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor was Henry Kissinger in the early 1970s.
Waltz confirmed his reassignment on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "I am deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation." US media outlets report that the former Florida officer had been out of favor at the White House for some time. While Trump respected Waltz, he was reportedly dissatisfied with his work and personnel choices. The final straw appears to have been the scandal involving the Signal app group chat used by high-ranking government officials to discuss impending attacks on the Houthi militia in Yemen.
In March, Waltz accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, to the chat, leading to the leak of sensitive communications to the press. This incident generated unwelcome headlines for the administration and put Waltz in a difficult position. He defended himself by claiming he did not know how the journalist’s number ended up in his phone and subsequently in the group chat, speculating that a contact in his address book might have been saved with the wrong number.
Reports indicate that Trump had been considering firing Waltz for some time but wanted to avoid the appearance of succumbing to negative press pressure.
Waltz’s public persona was less confrontational than that of some other members of Trump’s inner circle. Regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he emphasized the need for European partners to do more and, as a member of Congress, voted against further billions in aid for Kyiv last year. At the same time, he is a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has, at least in the past, openly questioned the sincerity of Russian negotiation offers.
His reassignment to New York saved him from the fate of other former Trump protégés who were completely removed from power and publicly shamed by the President. The UN post, while not at the heart of Washington’s power center, holds cabinet rank.
However, Waltz’s influence in shaping US international policy will likely be diminished in his new role. Despite Vice President JD Vance’s characterization of the move as a "promotion," Waltz still faces the hurdle of Senate confirmation for the vacant UN ambassadorship. While Republicans hold a narrow majority in the Senate, Waltz will have to endure the customary hearings before the vote.
Democrats, and possibly some Republicans, are expected to grill him with tough questions regarding the Signal app affair. The blunder has already subjected him to considerable ridicule. Even after his departure, the White House felt compelled to defend him when photos surfaced showing Waltz checking the Signal app on his phone during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded, "Signal is an approved app that is loaded on our government phones. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
With Waltz’s departure, which the White House insists is not a firing, Secretary of State Rubio moves further into the spotlight. The son of Cuban immigrants was reportedly a candidate for the Vice Presidency under Trump last summer. However, Vance was ultimately chosen, while the then-Republican Senator from Florida took the equally influential position of Secretary of State.
The US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, apparently learned of Trump’s decision to temporarily appoint her boss, Rubio, as National Security Advisor while facing cameras during a press briefing. When confronted with Trump’s social media post and a journalist’s question about how long the Secretary of State would hold both positions, she said, "It’s obvious that I just heard that from you." She called it a "marvel of modern technology and social media."
Similar to Waltz, Rubio is not known for being a rabble-rouser and appears more reserved than figures like Vice President Vance or Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Nevertheless, the 53-year-old aggressively advocates for Trump’s hardline positions.
During the heated exchange during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House, Rubio was not among those who aggressively confronted the Ukrainian leader. Instead, he sat silently and appeared almost embarrassed. However, reports indicate that he and Waltz later escorted Zelenskyy out.
Rubio was also the first to publicly threaten that the US might withdraw from mediating an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine if Russia and Ukraine did not quickly agree to a peace deal. For Ukraine, the personnel change is hardly a reason to celebrate.
Rubio does not require Senate confirmation for the position of National Security Advisor, allowing him to begin immediately. He adds it to his existing portfolio, which also includes serving as the Archivist of the United States and Director of USAID, the US Agency for International Development.
Vance joked about his colleague’s accumulation of roles. Apparently referring to the Pope, whom the devout Catholic had recently met before his death, he wrote, "I think he could take on a little more. If only there were an opening for a faithful Catholic…" When asked about it in a TV interview, Rubio replied that to become Pope, one had to be an unmarried man. "But I’m married and happily married."
The situation highlights the continued instability and unconventional decision-making that have characterized the Trump administration. While the move allows Waltz to exit with some dignity, it reinforces the image of Trump prioritizing loyalty and control above all else. Rubio’s expanded role consolidates power within a select few individuals, potentially streamlining decision-making but also raising concerns about the concentration of influence. The long-term implications of this restructuring on US foreign policy remain to be seen, but it undoubtedly marks a significant shift in the dynamics of the Trump administration. Furthermore, the incident underscores the ever-present risk of technological mishaps impacting national security, a vulnerability that governments worldwide must continually address. The saga provides yet another chapter in the ongoing narrative of the Trump administration’s tumultuous approach to governance and its impact on the global stage.
