Image: The official portrait of Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) – (Wikipedia)
By Staff Writer with Agencies
Washington, D.C., May 1, 2025 — U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is stepping down from his role in the Trump administration following growing scrutiny over a high-profile security mishap involving a private messaging app, according to multiple U.S. media reports.
Waltz, a former congressman from Florida and the president’s top adviser on national security matters, faced mounting criticism after it emerged that senior administration officials, under his oversight, had used the encrypted Signal app to discuss sensitive military operations, including a planned strike in Yemen.
The controversy intensified last month when The Atlantic‘s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed he had been mistakenly added to one of these Signal group chats. In the chat, key figures such as Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Waltz himself were reportedly discussing classified military plans.
Waltz publicly accepted responsibility for the breach, calling the inclusion of a journalist “an inadvertent but serious error.” While no classified materials were confirmed to have been shared, the incident sparked bipartisan concern and calls for an investigation.
President Donald Trump initially stood by Waltz, characterizing the incident as an unfortunate result of “imperfect technology.” “He’s doing his best,” Trump said in March. However, pressure from both Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans appears to have influenced the departure.
In a related development, Waltz’s deputy, Alex Nelson Wong, has also reportedly been removed from his position, indicating a broader shake-up within the national security leadership. Waltz is the first high-ranking official to leave the Trump administration in the president’s second term.
The White House has yet to issue an official comment on Waltz’s resignation or provide details on a successor. The BBC has reached out for confirmation.
While the Trump administration has previously downplayed the potential risks, many in Washington are warning that the Signal scandal underscores deeper issues in how national security communications are handled at the highest levels of government.
Timeline: Mike Waltz’s Departure and the Signal App Controversy
🗓 March 2025
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Signal Breach Revealed:
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, discloses he was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat involving top U.S. officials discussing a planned military strike in Yemen.
💬 Officials Involved:
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Mike Waltz (National Security Adviser)
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Pete Hegseth (Secretary of Defence)
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Marco Rubio (Secretary of State)
🗓 Late March 2025
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Waltz Accepts Responsibility:
Waltz publicly admits to adding Goldberg by mistake. He apologizes and insists no classified information was compromised. -
White House Response:
President Trump defends Waltz, blaming “imperfect technology” and calling it a “minor communication error.”
🗓 Early April 2025
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Political Fallout Begins:
Lawmakers from both parties demand an investigation, calling it a serious breach of national security protocols.
🗓 April 30, 2025
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Resignation Reports Surface:
U.S. media reports that Waltz is stepping down. Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Nelson Wong is also reportedly removed.
🗓 May 1, 2025
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Official Silence:
The White House has not yet confirmed the departure or announced a successor.
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