President Donald Trump has dismissed multiple National Security Council officials following a private Oval Office meeting on Wednesday with far-right activist Laura Loomer, three people familiar with the matter said, underscoring intensifying internal factionalism within the White House.
According to sources, at least three officials were removed from their posts, days after Loomer urged Trump to clean house at the NSC and presented a list of roughly a dozen names she alleged were disloyal. Among those fired were Brian Walsh, director for intelligence; Thomas Boodry, senior director for legislative affairs; and David Feith, senior director for technology and national security.
Loomer, known for her conspiracy-laden rhetoric, including a claim that 9/11 was an "inside job," has recently emerged as an influential voice in MAGA media circles. She told CNN, "It was an honor to meet with President Trump and present him with my findings... I will continue reiterating the importance of strong vetting, for the sake of protecting the President and our national security."
While Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong - one of Loomer's top targets - was not fired, one White House official speculated he may be next. Loomer has labeled Wong a "Never Trumper" and questioned his allegiance to the president, echoing a growing chorus of criticism from Trump loyalists.
The dismissals come amid mounting pressure on National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who briefly attended the meeting between Loomer and Trump. Waltz has been under scrutiny following the leak of internal Signal messages detailing sensitive military plans for strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. Despite public support from Trump, insiders say the president is weighing Waltz's future depending on how the situation unfolds.
"These jobs have a real learning curve and pushing a reset will set the Trump team back by months," said a former Biden-era NSC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The firings have exposed a power struggle between Waltz and Sergio Gor, head of the Presidential Personnel Office. Gor, a former Senate aide, has reportedly blocked several of Waltz's preferred NSC appointments, asserting they did not sufficiently align with Trump's foreign policy posture.
"It's astounding to me that Waltz has the trust of the president on national security issues but not the trust to staff his own team," said one official familiar with the dynamic.
The latest upheaval mirrors earlier disruptions within the Trump administration, including a prior episode when activist Christopher Rufo prompted firings after publishing internal logs alleging misconduct by intelligence staffers.
The NSC declined to comment on the personnel changes. "NSC doesn't comment on personnel matters," spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement.
Vice President J.D. Vance, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were reportedly in the building during Loomer's visit. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick escorted her into the West Wing, and Rep. Scott Perry (R., Pa.) joined unannounced, carrying a list of personnel concerns.
Loomer's involvement in the firings has drawn criticism due to her long history of inflammatory remarks. She once described herself as a "proud Islamophobe," has proposed banning Muslim drivers from rideshare apps, and circulated false claims about immigrants eating pets - a line Trump himself referenced during a 2024 debate.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) publicly defended Wong and his wife in a post on X, calling them "100% MAGA Warriors" and rejecting allegations they were foreign agents as "baseless and reprehensible."
Despite widespread concern about the optics of far-right activists shaping national security staffing decisions, Trump aides insist that all appointees are vetted thoroughly for loyalty to the president's agenda.
