President Donald Trump chose to remove National Security Advisor Mike Waltz after learning that Waltz had held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu about potential military options concerning Iran, according to reports.
The Washington Post reported that Waltz spoke with Netanyahu several times in the lead-up to the Prime Minister’s February visit to the White House—interactions that reportedly provoked Trump’s ire.
However, the Prime Minister’s Office pushed back against the claims in a formal statement: “Contrary to the Washington Post report, PM Netanyahu did not have intensive contact with Mike Waltz on Iran. PM Netanyahu had a warm meeting with Mike Waltz and Steve Witkoff at Blair House in February prior to the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump at the White House. Mike Waltz also joined VP JD Vance in a meeting with the PM before leaving Washington. Since then, the PM, the former National Security Advisor and Steve Witkoff had one phone conversation that did not deal with Iran.”
Adding to the controversy, the Washington Post indicated that a final tipping point in Waltz’s removal came when a reporter from The Atlantic was mistakenly added to a private group chat where discussions about potential action against the Houthis were taking place.
Trump made Waltz’s dismissal official on Thursday. At the same time, he announced that Waltz would be nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take over the role of National Security Advisor. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
{Matzav.com}