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Topics: JD Vance, Politics, US News, Donald Trump
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: JD Vance, Politics, US News, Donald Trump
Vice President JD Vance has argued why Mike Waltz wasn't 'let go' as National Security Advisor.
Previously a congressman from Florida's sixth congressional district, Waltz was one of Donald Trump's first appointments after he won the 2024 election.
However, just days after the president marked his 100th day in office, Trump revealed that Waltz is moving on.
Yesterday (May 1), Trump confirmed Waltz will no longer be his national security adviser, announcing he would be nominating him to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations instead.
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In a post to Truth Social, Trump wrote: "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."
And JD Vance has since weighed in.
The news of Waltz moving on from his role as National Security Advisor follows after he was linked to a huge security breach which involved a journalist from The Atlantic being added to a Signal group chat in which other officials discussed classified military plans for US strikes in Yemen.
Following the incident, Waltz told Fox News: "I take full responsibility. I built the group. It's embarrassing. We're going to get to the bottom of it."
Trump stuck up for Waltz at the time, resolving not to fire him, however, sources told ABC News that the relationship wasn't as smooth-sailing behind closed doors.
However, JD Vance has since spoken out about the decision for Waltz to move on, denying to Fox News' Special Report host Bret Baier that Waltz was 'let go' as a result of the so-called 'Signalgate'.
Instead, the vice president argued, if anything, 'you could make a good argument that it's a promotion,' highlighting how the administration 'brought Mike on to do some serious reforms of the National Security Council' and 'he has done that'.
He continued: "I like Mike. I think he’s a great guy. He’s got the trust of both me and the president.
"But we also thought that he’d make a better UN ambassador as we get beyond this stage of the reforms that we’ve made to the National Security Council.
"You saw the president announce that Marco Rubio is going to step in as interim leader of the National Security Council.
"So look, I think the media wants to frame this as a firing - Donald Trump has fired a lot of people, he doesn't give them senate confirmed appointments afterwards, what he thinks is Mike Waltz is going to better serve the administration, most importantly the American people in that role.
"And I happen to agree with him."
Waltz himself shared the POTUS' message on his own social media, writing on X: "I'm deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation."
Following Waltz's departure, Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will act as National Security Advisor in Waltz's stead, until another person takes on the role.