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National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, are set to depart their posts in the Trump White House on Thursday, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The White House has not publicly commented on the departures, which were first reported by journalist Mark Halperin.
The exit of the two high-level officials marks the latest shakeup at the National Security Council (NSC), which has seen increasing internal scrutiny and political pressure in recent weeks. President Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, has reportedly been speaking with NSC staffers as part of a broader reorganization effort.
Waltz, a former Green Beret and congressman, became a source of controversy in March after mistakenly including The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a private Signal chat discussing a planned military strike against Houthi targets in Yemen. The chat involved high-ranking officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Goldberg published details of the conversations after confirming their authenticity, including the timing and weapons used in the strikes.
Waltz acknowledged the authenticity of the chat behind closed doors. The White House debated whether he should resign, but Waltz never offered to step down, and President Trump publicly stood by him at the time. “He’s a good man. He learned a lesson,” Trump said.
A source close to the situation said Trump now believes enough time has passed since the leak that Waltz and Wong’s departure can be positioned as part of a strategic personnel reorganization, rather than a reaction to the incident.
Alex Wong, who served in the first Trump administration as deputy special representative for North Korea and as a top State Department official, also declined to comment when reached by phone. Trump has previously credited Wong with playing a role in organizing the president’s historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The pair’s departure follows the abrupt firing of at least six other NSC staffers in early April. That purge occurred shortly after far-right activist Laura Loomer visited the Oval Office and reportedly presented President Trump with opposition research on NSC members viewed as disloyal or aligned with neoconservative ideologies.
The latest personnel changes underscore ongoing tension within Trump’s national security apparatus as he reshapes the NSC ahead of the 2024 election. Analysts note the departures may open the door for new appointments more closely aligned with Trump’s political agenda and views on foreign policy.
With the May 1 exits of Waltz and Wong, the White House is expected to continue recalibrating its national security team amid growing scrutiny over loyalty and operational discipline.
