Trump announces key new role for Mike Waltz hours after ousting him

President Donald Trump said Thursday he is nominating his embattled national security adviser to become his next ambassador to the United Nations following a chaotic ouster Thursday.

News broke Thursday that Mike Waltz is leaving his post following a significant controversy involving the accidental inclusion in March of an Atlantic journalist in a secure Signal chat discussing sensitive U.S. military operations. Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of the magazine, to a Signal group chat where top administration officials — including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — discussed military strategies, including specific timings for airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

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Waltz later took responsibility for the flub, telling media outlets, "I take full responsibility. I built the group."

On Thursday, Trump appeared to offer Waltz a soft landing.

"I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "I know he will do the same in his new role."

Trump's first nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations was Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), but Republicans nixed her nomination, needing her to remain in her seat due to a razor-thin majority in the chamber.

Trump also named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim national security advisor, while continuing his duties at the State Department.

"Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump exclaimed.