Axe Hanged over Pete Hegseth but Trump Fires Mike Waltz

Iran Talk in Background to Sacking of Mike Waltz?

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, May 1, 2025 – A newsbreak by the Associated Press stated that the National Security Advisor of the US, Mike Waltz, is on his way out. US President Donald Trump will recast his national security tea,

Addressing the National Prayer Day, Trump lifted the cloud of doubts hanging over US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. He said: “Pete Hegseth is doing a great job.” The White House posted the video clip on X. Hegseth posted a ‘Thank You’ not to the video post.

Waltz ranked among the top Trump loyalists. Yet, he is exiting the Trump administration unceremoniously. The Middle East experts reckon that the ongoing US-Iran talks hold the backstory to the ouster of Waltz from the Trump administration.

Farnaz Fassihi, a journalist with The New York Times, in a post on X said: “Iran-US nuclear talks this Saturday are delayed in the backdrop of Mike Waltz, a known Iran hawk, being ousted. Iran views this is as a positive move for prospects of a deal.”

She also claimed that there is an “open fight between the pro-Israel, neocons opposing diplomacy and deal with Iran and MAGA figures who are dead against another catastrophic war in the Middle East”. “Don Jr. weighed in today,” added Fassihi.

At the time of the appointment of Waltz for the post of the national security advisor, his staunch Israel credentials had held the spotlight. Before setting out for an indirect talk with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Banjamin Netanyahu had rushed to Washington but returned disappointed per reports.

Trump wants a deal with Iran. His Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is piloting the US-Iran talks even while claims are made that Tehran may retain a semblance of nuclear capabilities to the chagrin of Tel Aviv.

Waltz along with his deputy Alex Wong, a Chinese origin American, are exiting the Trump administration in a stunning development. Demetri, a journalist with the Financial Times, speculated on four possible replacements, which included Witkoff.

Hegseth had been on the firing line for days for the SignalLeak scandal. His employment of a private server for a chat application where the details of attacks on Yemen had been shared brought firestorm of anger in the bipartisan US establishment.

But Trump’s endorsements today almost lifted the cloud of doubts over Hegseth. Trump had also threatened to fire the US Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell. But Powell, appointed by Trump in the first term, just like Hegseth is likely to survive.

Meanwhile, Trump in a post lauded Waltz and announced his appointment as the US envoy to the United Nations. Also, Trump said that US Secretary of the State Marco Rubio will for the time being serve as the national security advisor. Rubio will hold the additional charge until Waltz’s replacement is found.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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