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By Gabe Whisnant and Sonam Sheth
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Former White House national security adviser Mike Waltz was seen using the encrypted messaging app Signal in photos taken during Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.
The Context
Waltz was removed as national security adviser on Thursday, following weeks of scrutiny over his inadvertent inclusion of a journalist in a Signal group chat in which Trump administration officials discussed highly sensitive details about a planned military strike against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Read More on Politics
Waltz's deputy, Alex Wong, was also ousted Thursday. Shortly after, President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Waltz to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, replacing New York Representative Elise Stefanik as the nominee. Stefanik stepped down as Trump's first UN ambassador nominee to go back to serving in the House of Representatives, amid concerns about the chamber's slim GOP majority.
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What To Know
In a Wednesday photo captured by Reuters photographer Evelyn Hockstein, Waltz was seen looking down at his phone while holding it under the table.
The photo shows multiple Signal text messages, including one with a user named JD Vance. Vance is the vice president.
One partially concealed text also appears to show Waltz talking to a user with the name "Gabbard." Tulsi Gabbard is the Director of National Intelligence. A third message shows Waltz communicating with someone with the last name Rubio. Marco Rubio is the secretary of state and will serve as interim national security adviser until Trump taps a permanent replacement.
The photo, taken during Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, comes after the president recently warned his staff about continuing to use Signal following the "Signalgate" controversy, referring to the fallout from journalist Jeffrey Goldberg publishing details of the group chat Waltz included him in by mistake.
Wednesday's photo from Reuters started circulating on social media on Thursday, when reports first surfaced that Trump was ousting Waltz and Wong.
What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday: "I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role."
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who lasted 11 days before Trump fired him, wrote on X:** "Waltz lasted 9.2 Scaramuccis."
What Happens Next
Rubio will serve both as interim national security adviser and Secretary of State until Trump selects a new top national security aide.
Update 5/1/25 6:23 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information and context.
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