National security shake-up: Waltz out, Hegs at risk

The US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, and Deputy Alex Nelson Wong will leave the American administration, according to CBS News and other American media, on Thursday afternoon Eastern Time. In the evening, Fox News confirmed that the resignation had taken place, and Waltz lost his position. His deputy, Alex Nelson Wong, is also expected to depart. The White House has not commented on these reports yet. It is noteworthy that the resignation comes about a month after the events dubbed "Signalgate".

Waltz was one of the participants in a chat on the Signal messenger, where Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth provided detailed information about the planned American attack on Yemeni Houthi rebels. The chat was not secure, and additionally, Waltz mistakenly included The Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who recounted the experience in the magazine.

With the news of Waltz's departure, which is expected soon, speculation across the ocean immediately began that the next member of the American government facing resignation is the aforementioned Defence Secretary and head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth has been in trouble for a long time. Not only did it come to light that he shared sensitive information about the planned attack in a chat with Waltz and Goldberg, but also in a chat with his wife, brother, and lawyer. Recently, American media also reported that the Pentagon chief brought his wife, Jennifer, to at least two meetings, where security issues were discussed. Hegseth's wife is a former journalist at Fox News.

The media also reported that the Defence Secretary ordered a professional makeup studio to be set up in his headquarters. An official from the Department of Defence has denied these reports, assuring that Hegseth does his makeup before television appearances and does not require a professional studio for it. Let's remember, Pete Hegseth is a former Fox News presenter.

At the end of April, unofficial information emerged that the White House had started looking for a candidate to replace Hegseth as Defence Secretary. Interestingly, until recently, many commentators assessed that his position was not threatened because removing him from office would mean admitting a mistake by Donald Trump.

CNN emphasized that Trump had invested a lot of political capital in Hegseth, and the former television presenter "reflects the rebellious political identity and instincts" of the president. So far, Donald Trump has publicly defended the Defence Secretary, asserting that the media and critics are attacking him because he is making significant and necessary changes in his department and the Pentagon. According to the US president, Hegseth's black PR is done by, among others, disgruntled former employees who were dismissed as part of a widespread job-cutting campaign.