Trump Gives Timeline on When He’ll Name New National Security Adviser, Claims He Didn’t Lose Confidence in Mike Waltz

Ahmad Austin Jr.May 5th, 2025, 10:32 am

President Donald Trump on Sunday denied claims that he lost confidence in Mike Waltz despite the fact that he’ll be naming a new National Security Adviser in the coming months.

Days prior, Trump announced on Truth Social that Waltz was out as NSA and had been nominated to serve as the administration’s U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., as well as that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would serve as interim NSA until Trump found a successor.

The move came after weeks of scrutiny stemming from Waltz accidentally adding The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat on the messaging app Signal. The chat, which was creating to discuss the possibility of attacking the Houthi rebels in Yemen, included several other members of Trump’s cabinet.

On Sunday, Trump was asked on Air Force One if he had lost confidence in Waltz. He shot down the notion and argued he wouldn’t have nominated him for the U.N. if that were the case. He also clarified that Waltz did not resign from his previous role.

“I didn’t lose confidence in him,” the president said. “Why did I lose confidence? He’s going to the United Nations… Personally, if I had to choose for myself, I’d rather have that job than the other.

“He didn’t resign. I just moved him. There was no resignation. You people are so bad. You’re trying to make big deal out of something that’s not. You are so bad. That’s why nobody watches you anymore. Who are you with?” he continued.

Minutes later, Trump was asked about his succession plan for the role of National Security Adviser.

“Well, I have a lot of people that want the job, I can tell you,” he said. “A lot of people say it really works in with what Marco’s doing; but we have a lot people. I’m gonna be naming somebody.”

Trump estimated that he’d have a new nominee within the next six months. He also revealed that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was “at the top of the totem pole” for the job.

“I mean, I think he sort of, indirectly, already has that job,” Trump said. “You understand? Because he has a lot to say about a lot of things. He’s a very valued person in the administration, Stephen.”