National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is expected to step down from the Trump administration in the coming days, marking the first major staff departure of the president's second term, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong will also leave his post, the sources said.
The planned exit follows months of internal friction, with Waltz's standing deteriorating after a misstep involving a Signal group chat in which he inadvertently added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic. The chat included senior officials discussing U.S. military operations in Yemen, including the timing and weapons package of planned strikes on Houthi targets. Goldberg later published details after confirming the information's authenticity.
Following the incident, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard denied that classified material had been disclosed, but the leak prompted internal debates about Waltz's future. Trump ultimately declined to dismiss him at the time, telling reporters Waltz was "a good man" who "learned a lesson."
Still, Waltz's influence within the National Security Council never recovered. His exclusion from Air Force One this week during the president's trip to Michigan, despite joining Trump on Marine One, was interpreted by colleagues as a clear signal of his diminished role.
According to two sources, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Waltz over multiple issues, including his fading influence, the Signal leak, and the unexpectedly close Florida congressional race to replace him. Discussions had taken place to provide Waltz with a "soft landing" elsewhere in the administration, but as of Thursday, one official said, "President Trump lost confidence in him a while ago."
Special envoy Steve Witkoff, a longtime Trump confidant and real estate developer, is under consideration to succeed Waltz. Witkoff has led backchannel discussions with Russia and Iran in recent weeks as Trump pursues new international agreements. A final decision on the replacement has not been made.
Alex Wong, a veteran of the first Trump administration who helped negotiate the 2018 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, is also expected to depart. Wong previously served as deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the State Department and was deputy special representative for North Korea.
Chief of Staff Susie Wiles met with National Security Council staff Thursday to discuss the departures and upcoming personnel shifts, according to individuals briefed on the meetings. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
