By Charles Switzer
3:09pm PDT, May 2, 2025
Waltz's Departure and National Security Instability
On Thursday, May 1, Fox News' chief national security correspondent
Jennifer Griffin described the removal of National Security Advisor
Mike Waltz as "stunning news coming out of the White House."
Griffin was appearing on
The Faulkner Focus, where she discussed the breaking news, first reported by
Mark Halperin and later by CBS.
Her report focused on Waltz's role in
Signalgate, a controversy that has since been considered the most problematic episode during his tenure.
Here's what happened.
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Waltz's Role in Signalgate and the Houthi Airstrike Leak
Jennifer Griffin outlined the details of Signalgate, which involved Mike Waltz's mistake in adding
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of
The Atlantic, to a sensitive Signal chat.
This incident occurred shortly before the U.S. launched a military campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
Griffin explained, "Mike Waltz, as National Security Advisor, mistakenly added
The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat in which his Defense Secretary, as well as other national security officials, the head of the CIA and others —
Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State — were on."
The conversation, which took place on an unsecured platform not typically used for government discussions, led to a significant breach of security. Griffin noted that this mistake resulted in Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth sharing classified details about the timing and specifics of the airstrikes, including the military platforms involved.
This lapse in security has been described as an embarrassment for the Donald Trump administration.
Impact on Pentagon and Top Official Departures
Jennifer Griffin expanded on the fallout from Signalgate, stating that it had contributed to a larger pattern of instability within President Donald Trump's national security team.
"We've seen a vacuum created here surrounding Defense Secretary [Pete] Hegseth," she said, referencing the significant staff departures that followed the Signalgate incident.
Griffin explained that five close associates of Hegseth were fired in the wake of the leaks and the investigation into the security breach.
As a result, some of these positions remain unfilled, leading to further disruption at the Pentagon.
Additional Chaos within the National Security Team
In addition to the instability surrounding Mike Waltz and Pete Hegseth, Jennifer Griffin highlighted the further turmoil caused by the involvement of conservative activist Laura Loomer.
"[She] went in to see the president and had a list of people on the National Security Council that Mike Waltz then had to turn around and fire," Griffin said. "So there has been incredible instability at the top of the national security team for the president."
This event marked a significant point of internal conflict within the national security apparatus, adding to the already volatile atmosphere within the White House's top security team.
Social Media Reactions
On X, one user commented, "Waltz's departure is just another sign of the chaos at the top of the national security team. How many more people need to go before we see real stability?"
Another user pointed out, "This administration's handling of national security is a disaster. First, Signalgate, now this. It's embarrassing."
Meanwhile, some Donald Trump supporters chimed in to defend the administration, with one post reading, "There are always growing pains in any presidency, but we're still pushing forward. The work is getting done."
However, the majority of a large subset of responses reflected frustration with the continued instability in the administration's handling of national security.
