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President Trump reportedly dismissed former National Security Advisor Michael Waltz due to mounting frustrations over his hawkish stance on Iran and alleged backchannel communications with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, Mike Waltz is a former Green Beret and congressman who rose to prominence after being appointed National Security Advisor in the Trump administration. Prior to this role, Waltz was known for his outspoken positions on national security, often advocating for a more aggressive US foreign policy posture, particularly toward Iran. His tenure at the White House became mired in controversy after the “Signalgate” fiasco, where he inadvertently added The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief to a secure Signal chat discussing sensitive US military plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen. Waltz offered no clear public explanation for the incident, resulting in further criticism from the media.
What’s going on now: First reported by The Washington Post, Waltz was reportedly canned due to President Trump’s growing frustration with his behind-the-scenes coordination with Israeli officials and his aggressive push for military action against Iran—moves that clashed sharply with the administration’s preferred diplomatic path. According to senior White House officials, Waltz had aligned himself too closely with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of a February White House meeting, engaging in what sources described as “intense coordination” on potential military strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
These preemptive policy talks, done without Trump’s authorization, were viewed as a serious breach. “Waltz wanted to take U.S. policy in a direction Trump wasn’t comfortable with because the U.S. hadn’t attempted a diplomatic solution,” one official said, while another added, “It got back to Trump and the president wasn’t happy with it.”
Waltz’s conduct ignited a backlash from within Trump’s team, with advisors accusing him of effectively acting as an extension of the Israeli government.
Netanyahu’s office has commented on the report, saying, “Contrary to the Washington Post report, PM Netanyahu did not have intensive contact with Mike Waltz on Iran.” They added, “PM Netanyahu had a warm meeting with Mike Waltz and Steve Witkoff at Blair House in February prior to the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Trump at the White House.” The statement also clarified that since those meetings, there had only been “one phone conversation that did not deal with Iran.”
