No Scandal Here? JD Vance Clears the Air on Mike Waltz's Sudden NSA Exit
The political rumor mill is in overdrive after National Security Adviser Mike Waltz’s unexpected exit just four months into the job. But Vice President JD Vance says the truth is far less dramatic than the headlines suggest.
From NSA to UN: A Strategic Reassignment, not a Fall from Grace
Appearing on Fox News’ Special Report, Vance downplayed speculation surrounding Waltz’s move, insisting it’s a promotion—not a demotion.
“I think you could make a good argument that it’s a promotion,” Vance said. “We brought Mike on to do some serious reforms at the National Security Council. He has done that.”
Waltz, a decorated Green Beret and former Florida congressman, left Congress for the high-profile NSA role. Now, he’s being nominated as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations—a shift Vance framed as aligning the right talent with the right mission.
The Signal Chat Blunder: What Went Wrong
Fueling much of the speculation is an embarrassing incident that has since earned the nickname “Signalgate.”
In late March, Waltz created a Signal group chat titled “Houthi PC small group” to coordinate strategy on Yemen strikes. Intended for top-level Trump officials—Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, DNI Tulsi Gabbard, and Vance—the chat accidentally included an unexpected participant: The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.
That meant a journalist had access to sensitive military discussions, including timing and coordination of airstrikes. While Hegseth insists no classified material was shared, critics—including Pentagon insiders—are raising red flags.
An investigation is now underway, led by the Pentagon’s acting inspector general.
Vance Dismisses the Drama: “A Nothingburger”
Despite the controversy, Vance insists the chat incident played no role in Waltz’s reassignment.
“This isn’t about a scandal,” he said. “The president believes Waltz would do a better job in a different role.”
Vance also highlighted the healthy internal debate shown in the leaked messages, pointing to his own caution about the optics of the Yemen strikes.
“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” he wrote in the chat, flagging concerns about oil prices and global perception.
To Vance, this shows the administration’s strength—not weakness.
“That’s what a good national security team should do,” he said. “Debate before action.”
Inside Operation Rough Rider: Trump’s Yemen Strike Campaign
The group chat centered around Operation Rough Rider, the Trump administration’s ongoing military campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen. Now 40 days in, the operation has hit over 800 targets, killing hundreds of fighters, including leaders tied to drone and missile strikes.
Vance defended the aggressive approach:
“If you load stuff onto a ship and you send it to the United States, we want to make sure it shows up without the sailors getting killed, without the ship being destroyed.”
What’s Next for Mike Waltz?
Waltz’s nomination for the UN ambassador post now heads to the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to press him on both Signalgate and Operation Rough Rider.
Still, the White House is standing firm.
For now, JD Vance and President Trump remain united behind Waltz, positioning his next move as part of a larger strategic reshuffle—not a response to controversy.
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