Here’s one for the “Only in Washington” file: A top national security official leaks classified info, and instead of being fired, he gets a promotion—sort of.
President Donald Trump has tapped Mike Waltz to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. This comes just days after Waltz was removed from his post as National Security Advisor.
The reason? He accidentally invited a journalist—yes, a journalist—into a secure Signal chat about U.S. military operations in Yemen.
The Leak
Waltz, a former Green Beret and congressman, was part of a chat discussing classified military actions. Thanks to what the White House called a “miscommunication,” journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was accidentally looped in.
And that wasn’t the only slip-up.
Reports say Waltz also used personal email accounts to conduct official business—something the federal government has long warned against for security reasons.
If this were the private sector, someone would’ve been shown the door. Fast.
But this is D.C., where the rules work a little differently.
Reassign, Don’t Remove
Rather than fire Waltz outright, Trump reassigned him.
Now he’s headed to New York to represent the United States at the United Nations.
Trump loyalists say it’s a strategic play—keeping a trusted ally in the loop while moving him away from daily national security decisions.
Still, critics are asking the obvious question: If you can’t be trusted with a group text, should you be speaking for America at the U.N.?
Marco Rubio Steps In—For Now
In another twist, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been named Acting National Security Advisor. That’s in addition to his already full plate as the nation’s top diplomat.
It’s a short-term solution, but it signals that Trump wants to keep his inner circle tight—and under control.
Rubio brings a hawkish approach to national security and a clear message to America’s enemies: don’t test us.
But stacking roles like this raises another issue—efficiency.
Conservatives have long argued for leaner government, where people are held accountable and bureaucracy is trimmed.
Giving one man two full-time jobs doesn’t exactly scream “streamlined.”
Trust, Accountability, and American Strength
We expect our national security team to be rock solid. Americans pay billions every year for a military and intelligence system that keeps us safe.
So when someone in that system fumbles badly—especially someone in a top post—it matters.
In the private world, if a CEO leaked trade secrets or used Gmail for company business, shareholders would be livid.
Conservatives believe government should operate the same way—efficiently, responsibly, and with real consequences when people fail.
That’s how we build trust in the system. That’s how we keep America strong.
Critics Pile On—But Let’s Not Pretend They’re Consistent
Of course, the media is jumping on this like it’s the scandal of the year.
Outlets like The Washington Post and The Daily Beast are running headlines about “chaos” and “lack of discipline.”
But let’s not forget: when Hillary Clinton ran a whole private email server out of her basement, these same folks bent over backward to defend her.
So spare us the double standard.
The truth is, Trump’s handling of this is a mix of discipline and diplomacy.
He removed Waltz from a high-risk job but didn’t throw him under the bus.
That’s more than can be said for past presidents who simply ignored problems until they blew up.
Government That Works, Not Wobbles
This whole episode is a reminder of why we fight for limited government in the first place.
When power is spread too thin, and too many unelected bureaucrats are making critical decisions, mistakes happen—and often without accountability.
That’s why conservative leaders push for tighter controls, smaller agencies, and a system where the buck actually stops somewhere.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
