Waltz angered Trump not just over Signal leak, WP learns of another scandal
Photo: Trump's former national security advisor Mike Waltz (Getty Images)
In February, Mike Waltz discussed the possibility of striking Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The move upset US President Donald Trump, reports The Washington Post.
A few days ago, Trump dismissed Waltz from his position as National Security Advisor and appointed him US Ambassador to the UN. His fate was sealed following a scandal involving a Signal chat, where he accidentally added a journalist from The Atlantic. The group had been discussing potential strikes on Yemen.
However, Waltz had angered Trump long before that scandal. According to two sources, he actively coordinated with Netanyahu on military options against Iran ahead of the Israeli leader's meeting with Trump at the White House.
One of the sources said Waltz “wanted to take US policy in a direction Trump wasn’t comfortable with because the US hadn't attempted a diplomatic solution.”
"It got back to Trump, and the president wasn’t happy with it," that person said.
Waltz’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. But White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded following a Washington Post inquiry.
"The President sets the agenda, and it’s up to his Administration to implement those policies, and everyone was rowing in the same direction, which is why he had the most successful first 100 days in history," he said.
Some members of the administration believed Waltz was trying to tip the scales in favor of military action and was working closely with the Israelis.
US-Iran talks
According to The New York Times, Israel was planning to strike Iran's nuclear sites in May. However, Donald Trump rejected the idea after Tehran agreed to enter talks on the nuclear deal. A series of meetings had already taken place in April.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that Iran must stop enriching uranium and developing long-range missiles. He also said American inspectors must be allowed access to nuclear facilities. Tehran, however, insists on its right to a full nuclear cycle.
For more details on what Trump wants from Iran, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
Waltz's dismissal
As RBC-Ukraine previously reported, several diplomatic positions were offered to the dismissed National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. He ultimately chose the role at the UN.
