Top Trump official Mike Waltz resigns after scandal

One of Donald Trump’s most senior advisers is out of the White House, but the Democrats have said the “wrong guy” was booted.

Donald Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz will step down from his post after the so-called “Signalgate” scandal where a journalist was accidentally included in unsecured messages about military strikes.

Mr Waltz’s resignation makes him the first member of Mr Trump’s team of close officials to depart the White House. His deputy Alex Wong will also depart, reported US network CBS.

Democrats have said “they fired the wrong guy” and defence secretary Pete Hegseth should have been given his marching orders following the uproar when sensitive messages on Middle East missile strikes were shared on a messaging app.

But Mr Waltz’s departure may take the pressure of Mr Hegseth.

US President Donald Trump looks on during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

On Thursday, US time, President Trump praised Mr Waltz and said he would nominate him to be the US’ ambassador to the United Nations.

“From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my national security adviser, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our nation’s interests first.

“I know he will do the same in his new role.”

Mr Trump did not address the circumstances around Mr Waltz’s departure.

He added that secretary of state Marco Rubio would be his interim national security adviser “while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department”.

Mr Watltz posted on social media that he was “deeply honoured to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation”.

Signalgate

Mr Waltz and Mr Hegseth were at the centre of a furore when details of a US military strike on Yemen were discussed on the messaging app Signal. The app was outside of The Pentagon’s secure systems and could have been potentially hacked by the US’ adversaries.

The episode, now known as “Signalgate” was one of the biggest scandals of Mr Trump’s first 100 days of his presidency.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz speaks during The Hill & Valley Forum at the US Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium in Washington, DC, on April 30, 2025. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)

It was Mr Hegseth which set up the chat with senior White House officials including Mr Waltz and Vice President JD Vance. It was then revealed he also set up a second Signal chat with his wife and brother on the strikes.

But it was Mr Waltz who apparently inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of magazine The Atlantic to the initial chat.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (C) listens during a joint press conference by President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron in the East Room to the White House in Washington, DC, on February 24, 2025. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

Mr Trump had, at the time, defended both Mr Hegseth and Mr Waltz. He said Mr Waltz was “a good man” who “learned a lesson”.

But here has been pressure for someone to take the fall for the error.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz (left) speaks with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

‘Fired the wrong guy’

Leader of the Democrats in the Senate Chuck Schumer, one of the party’s top two members, said more than one person to should go after the Signalgate scandal.

“They should fire (Mr Waltz), but they’re firing the wrong guy. They should be firing Hegseth,” he said in Washington DC.

Mr Schumer said Mr Hegseth had “no experience”.

“There are going to be many more problems, just like Signalgate that come out of the Defence Department, as long as Hegseth is in charge.

“This is not a one off. This is going to happen over and over and over again.”

There have been reports that the Pentagon has been disrupted since the former Fox News host took on the role with a swath of senior staff sacked accused of leaking against him, allegations many of those targets have denied.

A number of people are in the frame to become Mr Trump’s permanent national security adviser. These include his special envoy and real estate tycoon Steve Witkoff, who has been negotiating the Ukraine conflict; former ambassador to Germany and current presidential envoy Richard Grenell and firebrand White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Originally published as Top Trump official Mike Waltz resigns after scandal