President Trump removed Mike Waltz from his position as National Security Advisor because he “discussed with Israel to push the US to attack Iran,” according to the Washington Post.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was unexpectedly nominated by President Donald Trump on May 2 to be the US ambassador to the United Nations, losing one of the most important positions in the White House.
The Washington Post on May 3 quoted sources who were senior officials and advisers in the White House as saying that the decision to remove Waltz from the position of National Security Advisor was the result of a process of accumulating President Trump’s frustration with his mistakes, especially his overly tough and aggressive stance towards Iran .
The scandal of the leaked chat group airstrikes on Houthi forces in Yemen in March was considered the “last straw”, but in fact, Waltz had made the US President uncomfortable since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House in February, when this advisor “seemed to share the view with the Israeli leader that the time was ripe to attack Iran”.
Waltz appeared to have discussed military options against Iran with Netanyahu hours before the Oval Office meeting between Trump and the Israeli prime minister, according to two people familiar with the matter.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at the White House on February 20. Photo: Reuters
“Waltz wanted to move US policy in a direction that Mr. Trump did not want, because Washington had not tried a diplomatic solution at that time. This reached Mr. Trump’s ears, making the US President unhappy,” said a source.
Sources said Mr Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with Mr Waltz, who had favored military options against Tehran. Mr Waltz was also said to be at odds with senior White House officials over that stance, particularly on the possibility of attacking Iran.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Mr Waltz and Mr Netanyahu had met before the Oval Office meeting in February, but denied that the two were in “close contact”.
The White House and a spokesman for Mr. Waltz have not commented on the Washington Post’s information.
The decision to remove Mr. Waltz from the position of National Security Advisor is Mr. Trump’s first notable personnel change of his second term. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take over the position while a replacement is searched. Observers say that special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will hold the position long-term.
During his first term, Mr. Trump appointed four national security advisers including Michael Flynn, H. R. McMaster, John Bolton and Robert O’Brien.
The firing of adviser Mike Waltz marks a tumultuous month for personnel on President Donald Trump’s national security team.
