Mike Waltz, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, is stepping down just over 100 days into Trump’s second term, following mounting pressure in the wake of a high-profile blunder involving the encrypted messaging app Signal. The incident, which has come to be known as “Signalgate,” erupted when Waltz mistakenly added a prominent journalist to a private Signal group chat where top administration officials were discussing sensitive military operations, including planned U.S. airstrikes in Yemen.
Waltz’s exit, confirmed by a source familiar with the matter on May 1, also includes the departure of Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong. Though Trump initially defended Waltz publicly, describing the error as a “mistake” and vowing that Waltz would not be fired, the situation has increasingly strained their relationship behind closed doors. Trump reportedly began referring to the controversy as “Signalgate” in private, signaling frustration with the ongoing fallout.
The chat, exposed by journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a March 24 report, included high-ranking officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Vice President JD Vance. It featured discussions of attack plans on the Houthi militants in Yemen, with Hegseth allegedly detailing specific strike times and delivery methods. While the administration denied that any classified information was shared, screenshots later published showed otherwise, fueling bipartisan concern and congressional scrutiny.
This misstep made Waltz the first major official to leave the Trump administration in its second term. While he served longer than Michael Flynn, who was dismissed 24 days into Trump’s first term, the early departure is seen as a significant blow to the administration’s efforts to project competence in national security.
The departure also comes amid growing influence from far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has urged Trump to clean house within the National Security Council. Loomer, who recently visited the White House, celebrated Waltz’s resignation and called for others promoted under his leadership to follow suit.
Waltz had tried to downplay the severity of the leak in recent weeks, insisting that no locations or classified war plans had been revealed. Nevertheless, his attempts to control the damage faltered as further reports emerged of a second Signal chat involving Hegseth allegedly sharing sensitive information with his wife, brother, and legal counsel.
Waltz, a former Green Beret colonel and veteran of multiple combat deployments, previously served three terms in Congress representing Florida’s 6th district. Before entering elected office, he held roles within the Pentagon and served as a counterterrorism adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney during the George W. Bush administration. His congressional seat was recently filled by Republican Randy Fine following a special election in March.
With Waltz’s departure, several of Trump’s original high-profile political appointees from the House are now no longer serving in the administration. Matt Gaetz and Elise Stefanik, originally slated for top roles, never formally assumed their posts, further underscoring the instability that has dogged parts of Trump’s national security team.
Waltz had previously taken full responsibility for the Signal mishap in an appearance on Fox News, calling it “embarrassing” and pledging to investigate the incident. While his defenders maintain that no true security breach occurred, critics argue the situation revealed alarming lapses in protocol at the highest levels of the administration.
