On Sunday, President Donald Trump criticized how journalists have framed Mike Waltz’s transition from national security adviser to nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Several media outlets reported last week that Waltz, a former Republican congressman from Florida and Green Beret veteran, was ousted from his White House role after he took responsibility for the “Signalgate” controversy. However, when pressed by reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington, D.C., Trump rejected the notion that Waltz stepped down, let alone was forced out.
“I just moved him. There was no resignation,” Trump said. “You people are so bad. You’re trying to make a big deal out of something that’s not.”
In fact, the president insisted moments earlier, Waltz had been promoted.
“I think it’s an upgrade,” Trump said.
Trump dismissed the suggestion that appointing Waltz as his national security adviser was a mistake.
“He was fine and, where he is, he’ll do a good job,” Trump said.
Trump also shut down a reporter who asked what made him lose confidence in Waltz.
“I didn’t lose confidence in him. Why did I lose confidence? He’s going to the United Nations — to me, I think it’s — personally, if I had to choose for myself … I’d rather have that job than the other,” Trump said.
The “Signalgate” controversy began after The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported in late March that he had inadvertently gained access to a Signal group chat in which leading Trump administration officials discussed plans for airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
In the ensuing fallout, Waltz took responsibility for the breach, which has been linked to the “automated suggestion” feature on his iPhone. But the Trump administration denied there was classified information in the conversation, and the president had stood by Waltz.
On May 1, hours after a flurry of reports said Waltz was out as national security adviser, Trump delivered a surprise announcement in which he revealed that he was nominating Waltz to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a move that followed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) being withdrawn as the original nominee.
Unlike with his role as national security adviser, Waltz will have to go through a Senate confirmation process to be affirmed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Senate Democrats are predicting a “brutal” confirmation hearing, whenever one is scheduled.
As Waltz prepares for his new role, Trump is already looking ahead to fill the vacancy left by Waltz’s departure from the national security adviser position.
On Air Force One, the president told reporters that he aims to pick a new national security adviser in the next six months. When asked if he is considering White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Trump said Miller is “at the top of the totem pole” and “indirectly, already has that job.”
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[[{“value”:”
On Sunday, President Donald Trump criticized how journalists have framed Mike Waltz’s transition from national security adviser to nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Several media outlets reported last week that Waltz, a former Republican congressman from Florida and Green Beret veteran, was ousted from his White House role after he took responsibility for the “Signalgate” controversy. However, when pressed by reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington, D.C., Trump rejected the notion that Waltz stepped down, let alone was forced out.
“I just moved him. There was no resignation,” Trump said. “You people are so bad. You’re trying to make a big deal out of something that’s not.”
In fact, the president insisted moments earlier, Waltz had been promoted.
“I think it’s an upgrade,” Trump said.
Trump dismissed the suggestion that appointing Waltz as his national security adviser was a mistake.
“He was fine and, where he is, he’ll do a good job,” Trump said.
Trump also shut down a reporter who asked what made him lose confidence in Waltz.
“I didn’t lose confidence in him. Why did I lose confidence? He’s going to the United Nations — to me, I think it’s — personally, if I had to choose for myself … I’d rather have that job than the other,” Trump said.
The “Signalgate” controversy began after The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg reported in late March that he had inadvertently gained access to a Signal group chat in which leading Trump administration officials discussed plans for airstrikes on Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
In the ensuing fallout, Waltz took responsibility for the breach, which has been linked to the “automated suggestion” feature on his iPhone. But the Trump administration denied there was classified information in the conversation, and the president had stood by Waltz.
On May 1, hours after a flurry of reports said Waltz was out as national security adviser, Trump delivered a surprise announcement in which he revealed that he was nominating Waltz to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, a move that followed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) being withdrawn as the original nominee.
Unlike with his role as national security adviser, Waltz will have to go through a Senate confirmation process to be affirmed as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Senate Democrats are predicting a “brutal” confirmation hearing, whenever one is scheduled.
As Waltz prepares for his new role, Trump is already looking ahead to fill the vacancy left by Waltz’s departure from the national security adviser position.
On Air Force One, the president told reporters that he aims to pick a new national security adviser in the next six months. When asked if he is considering White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Trump said Miller is “at the top of the totem pole” and “indirectly, already has that job.”
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