President Donald Trump has removed Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser and nominated him as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, following a security lapse involving a sensitive Signal group chat.

The announcement was made via Trump’s Truth Social platform, where he praised Waltz’s service and revealed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will temporarily take on the national security role alongside his diplomatic duties.

“Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's interests first,” Trump wrote, citing Waltz’s military service, congressional tenure, and time as National Security Adviser. “I know he will do the same in his new role.”

The move follows criticism over Waltz’s accidental inclusion of Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, in a Signal chat with senior officials, including Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The group reportedly discussed sensitive military plans, such as a potential strike on Yemen, raising concerns about Waltz’s judgment and National Security Council staff vetting. Despite the incident, Trump’s decision to nominate Waltz for the UN role suggests continued personal support.

Waltz responded on X, expressing gratitude: “I'm deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation,” alongside a screenshot of Trump’s post.

The Signal blunder has sparked scrutiny, with congressional committees questioning officials, including the Director of National Intelligence and CIA Director, in March. The future of Waltz’s deputy, Alex Wong, also implicated in the incident, remains unclear.

The nomination follows Trump’s withdrawal of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as his initial UN ambassador pick, citing concerns over the GOP’s slim House majority. Adding to the controversy, a Reuters photo from a recent White House cabinet meeting showed Waltz using Signal again, with a visible chat involving Vice President JD Vance. A message from Vance read: “I have confirmation from my counterpart it's turned off. He is going to be here.”

Waltz’s Senate confirmation is expected to focus heavily on the Signal incident, as the White House pushes forward with the nomination. (ILKHA)