Witkoff could become Trump’s next National Security Advisor – Politico
Photo: Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump may dismiss his National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, as early as today. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff may take his place, Politico reports.
Waltz has reportedly lost the trust of other senior officials within the Trump administration, prompting the president to consider his removal. Three sources familiar with the matter said the dismissal could happen soon, although a final decision has yet to be made.
In light of this, Trump’s team has begun searching for a replacement. Names of potential successors have been circulating in the West Wing for weeks. However, two Politico sources and another individual close to the White House noted that in recent days, plans to remove Waltz gained momentum.
There is no definitive forecast yet on who will lead the influential National Security Council. Still, several sources say Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is a leading pick. Witkoff currently chairs negotiations with Russia, Iran, and Hamas in Gaza.
However, according to Axios, Witkoff was already considered as a possible successor to Waltz, but he is not interested in this position.
The White House declined to comment. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said, "We are not going to respond to reporting from anonymous sources."
Waltz’s dismissal
As reported earlier today, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz may soon step down from his post. According to CBS News, his deputy, Alex Wong, is also expected to leave.
One source familiar with the matter inside the National Security Council said President Trump believes enough time has passed since the Signal scandal to frame the resignations of Waltz and Wong as part of a staff reorganization. The scandal occurred in March, when Waltz mistakenly added The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, to a classified chat. At the time, however, he managed to hold on to his position.
Now, Trump is still weighing the decision to dismiss Waltz, so that it does not look like a concession to pressure from the media or political circles.
However, according to Fox News, these and other personnel decisions may be announced in the near future, and President Donald Trump is expected to make a public statement.
