Shake-Up in Trump’s cabinet: Behind Mike Waltz’s Ousting

Following Waltz’s removal, President Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take on the role of National Security Advisor.

Politico, citing sources, reported that the White House seeks a powerful, long-term dual role for Rubio. This marks a significant promotion for Trump’s former 2016 primary rival, who once traded personal attacks with him over the Republican Party’s future.

According to three senior White House officials, Rubio is expected to serve as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor for at least six months, with some of Trump’s advisors pushing to make this arrangement permanent.

Rubio’s dual role is seen as more than a temporary fix, with one source stating it was not designed as a short-term measure.

Sources say Rubio’s loyalty is his greatest asset; since becoming Trump’s top diplomat, Rubio has abandoned many prior stances, including his hawkish support for Ukraine, and has become a staunch defender of Trump’s controversial deportation policies, despite his own Cuban immigrant roots. These shifts have drawn criticism from traditional Republicans and foreign policy experts who once viewed him as an ally.

According to Slate, Waltz’s recent ousting was an odd move that unfolded last week. His dismissal, reassignment as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and Rubio’s appointment as National Security Advisor raise questions about whether Trump knows more than two people capable of managing foreign policy.

Perhaps not, but two other realities are more relevant. First, few individuals are likely willing to take senior roles in Trump’s administration. Second, Trump is the sole driver of U.S. foreign policy, so titles matter little as long as subordinates follow his orders without imposing their own views—a key reason for the limited pool of candidates.

Waltz exemplifies this. He performed poorly in his White House role for several reasons: he was overly hawkish on Russia, which clashed with Trump’s preferences; he posed a security risk by discussing sensitive matters on Signal; and he displayed bureaucratic incompetence, evident in his animosity toward Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff. These were valid grounds for his dismissal.

Simultaneously, his reassignment to the U.N.—a vacant post since Trump’s initial nominee for the role—served as both a demotion and a promotion.

Rubio’s new role: A threat to Trump’s power consolidation

News of Rubio’s expanded role caught even State Department officials off guard. When a reporter asked spokesperson Tammy Bruce about the duration of Rubio’s new position, she admitted she had “just heard the news.”

For Waltz, this is a clear demotion; he has been sidelined from the core security apparatus to a U.N. role that holds little weight in a Republican administration.

Regardless of why Waltz was marginalized, Trump is reshaping his position in a way that avoids making himself look bad. This involves merging two critical federal roles—Secretary of State and National Security Advisor—and entrusting them to Rubio.

This is the kind of loyalty Trump rewards. To mask his administration’s shortcomings, the President is consolidating power further, handing two powerful positions to a loyal subordinate.