Rep. Mike Waltz, the national security adviser, caught fire at the epicenter. A recent accidental leak had us eavesdropping on just such private White House deliberations over a proposed military strike on the Houthis. The off-the-record discussion, meant to be closed to wider scrutiny, unintentionally welcomed in Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. This oversight has incurred blistering criticism from all sides, including members of Congress and White House insiders.
The event prompted widespread security fears. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) blasted the sharing of sensitive data across a nonsecure network as “unconscionable.” The House Armed Services Committee is likely to look into this issue further. Even in the face of this backlash, several House Republicans have rallied to Waltz’s defense. In a statement to POLITICO, Speaker Mike Johnson declared that Waltz should “never ever” step down, touting his military credentials and trustworthiness.
“He’s exceptionally qualified for the job. He is trusted — trustworthy,” said Speaker Mike Johnson.
All of the voices are happy ones. One insider familiar with the White House response labeled Waltz a “fucking idiot. It wasn’t just Pompeo that had such a view—many others inside the administration shared this belief. This internal discontent deepens the severity of the blow and ratchets up the heat on Waltz to counteract his blunder.
“Everyone in the White House can agree on one thing: Mike Waltz is a fucking idiot,” remarked a person close to the White House.
During the George W. Bush administration, Waltz advised former Vice President Dick Cheney on counterterrorism. Today, he supports President Trump’s “America First” foreign policy. In the aftermath of the water crisis, he has participated in several talks with state and federal officials regarding his fate, including the option of him resigning. President Trump still has Waltz’s back 100 percent. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt just assured the president’s confidence in his national security team.
“As President Trump said, the attacks on the Houthis have been highly successful and effective. President Trump continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including national security adviser Mike Waltz,” stated Karoline Leavitt.
Many don’t think the political fallout for President Trump and his administration will be too great, given the tempest in a teapot controversy. This turn of events could put Waltz on a hot seat. For one, Vice President JD Vance would be deeply worried about mixed messages in U.S. foreign policy. He thinks these inconsistencies can have huge effects on oil prices.
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