President Donald Trump has dismissed National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, following a scandal involving the use of an encrypted private messaging app to discuss sensitive military operations, according to two sources familiar with the decision.
Waltz and Wong are expected to formally leave their posts by Thursday. The White House has not issued a public statement or responded to requests for comment regarding the firings.
The dismissals come amid growing concerns within Trump’s national security apparatus about operational security and internal loyalty. The incident that led to Waltz’s removal reportedly involved his accidental inclusion of a senior editor from The Atlantic magazine in a Signal group chat with senior U.S. officials. The group was allegedly discussing pending U.S. military strikes in Yemen targeting Houthi rebels.
The messaging blunder, dubbed “Signalgate” in Washington circles, ignited a broader firestorm within the administration. It also implicated Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reportedly shared classified details of the Yemen operation within the same chat.
Although the Signal incident was the immediate catalyst, insiders suggest Waltz had long been in the crosshairs of Trump’s inner circle. Sources say figures aligned with the president’s “Make America Great Again” movement had questioned Waltz’s ideological loyalty well before the scandal broke.
The shake-up follows a pattern seen just last month when President Trump, reportedly influenced by far-right activist Laura Loomer, removed multiple National Security Council staffers over perceived disloyalty to his agenda.
With tensions mounting and scrutiny intensifying, the leadership vacuum raises fresh questions about the stability and direction of Trump’s national security strategy as global flashpoints continue to escalate.
