JD Vance reveals reason why Trump removed Mike Waltz from national security advisor role

On May 1, Donald Trump thanked Mike Waltz for his work as his national security advisor and announced that he'll nominate him to be the UN ambassador
JD Vance was asked during a Fox News interview why Mike Waltz was let go from his role as national security advisor (Getty Images)
JD Vance was asked during a Fox News interview why Mike Waltz was let go from his role as national security advisor (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Vice President JD Vance revealed the real reason why President Donald Trump removed Mike Waltz from the national security advisor role.

The 40-year-old told Fox News 'Special Report' host Bret Baier on Thursday, May 1, "We brought Mike on to do some serious reforms of the National Security Council. He has done that."



 

JD Vance believes Mike Waltz would make a 'better UN ambassador'

JD Vance added, "I like Mike. I think he’s a great guy. He’s got the trust of both me and the president, but we also thought that he’d make a better UN ambassador as we get beyond this stage of the reforms that we’ve made to the National Security Council."

"I think you can make a good argument that it’s a promotion," he remarked. 

US Vice President JD Vance arrives to board Air Force Two after touring the US military's Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025 in Pituffik, Greenland. The itinerary for the visit was scaled back after a plan for a more extensive trip drew criticism from officials in Greenland and Denmark, which controls foreign and defence policy of the semiautonomous territory. (Photo by Jim Watson - Pool / Getty Images)
Vice President JD Vance arrives to board Air Force Two after touring the US military's Pituffik Space Base on March 28, 2025, in Pituffik, Greenland (Jim Watson - Pool/Getty Images)

Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Thursday to announce that he was nominating Waltz to be ambassador to the United Nations, which will require Senate confirmation, per the New York Post.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security adviser.

During his interview, Vance added, "I think the media wants to frame this as a firing. Donald Trump has fired a lot of people. He doesn’t give them Senate-confirmed appointments afterwards. What he thinks is that Mike Waltz is going to better serve the administration, most importantly, the American people, in that role."

U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill with members of The American Legion on June 16, 2021 in Washington, DC. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working with groups like The American Legion to push for the Biden Administration to approve the evacuation of Afghans who assisted American forces during the war in Afghanistan before the September 11th troop withdrawal deadline. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Mike Waltz speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill with members of The American Legion on June 16, 2021, in Washington, DC (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Trump's decision to shuffle his Cabinet shocked people who are close to the White House, as many didn’t see Waltz losing his old job and getting picked as UN envoy.

Interestingly, Rep Elise Stefanik was first chosen to be Trump’s UN ambassador but was later told to stay in Congress to boost the House GOP majority, per the outlet.

Following Trump's announcement, Waltz took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "I’m deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation."



 

Mike Waltz was denied entry on Donald Trump's Air Force One just days before ouster

Mike Waltz was left stranded on the tarmac after Air Force One headed for Michigan on April 29, two days before he was ousted from his role as national security advisor.

Waltz had accompanied Trump and other members of the POTUS' team on Marine One, the presidential helicopter, on a 10-minute ride to Joint Base Andrews, as per The Daily Beast.

White House sources called his abandonment "odd," which was captured on camera by CNN, and the clip soon went viral online.



 

The viral footage shows Waltz heading toward a set of stairs leading up to the plane, with a briefcase in hand, before speaking with another aide, who points him in a different direction.

He stood by, watching, as other Trump officials ascended the boarding stairs.

The White House informed CNN that the plan had never been for Waltz to head to Michigan.

Co-Chair Committee on Platform Mike Waltz speaks on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Mike Waltz speaks on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024, in Milwaukee (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Interestingly, Waltz gave an interview to Fox News just moments before the news of his ouster broke.

He said during the interview, "This is leadership at its finest led by our commander-in-chief who loves the troops and they love him."

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