US National Security shake-up: Waltz out, Hegseth under fire

The departure of US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, and Deputy Alex Nelson Wong from the American administration was announced by CBS News and other American media outlets on Thursday afternoon, UK time. Later in the evening, Fox News confirmed that the resignation had indeed occurred and that Waltz had lost his position. His deputy, Alex Nelson Wong, is also anticipated to step down. 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 app, during which Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth provided detailed information about the planned American attack on Yemeni Houthi rebels. The chat was not secure, and moreover, Waltz inadvertently included The Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who recounted the incident in the magazine.

With the news of Waltz’s imminent departure, speculation ensued across the Atlantic that the next member of the American government facing resignation is the mentioned Defence Secretary and head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth has been under scrutiny for some time. Not only was it revealed that he shared sensitive information about the proposed attack in a chat with Waltz and Goldberg, but he also shared such information in conversations with his wife, brother, and lawyer. Recently, American media 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 this. It's worth remembering that Pete Hegseth is a former Fox News presenter.

At the end of April, unofficial information emerged that the White House had started searching for a candidate to replace Hegseth as Defence Secretary. Interestingly, a large number of commentators had recently assessed that his position was not at risk because removing him from office would imply acknowledging a mistake by Donald Trump.

CNN highlighted that Trump had invested significant political capital in Hegseth, noting that 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 implementing necessary changes in his department and the Pentagon. According to the US president, Hegseth’s negative coverage is partly orchestrated by disgruntled former employees who were dismissed as part of a widespread downsizing campaign.