Trump taps Rubio to serve as both Secretary of State and National Security Adviser after Waltz’s signal scandal

On Thursday, President Donald Trump launched his first major cabinet reshuffle for his second term, announcing that National Security Adviser Michael Waltz will be nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In a surprising twist, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will assume Waltz’s role in the interim, while also retaining his current post.

The announcement came via Trump’s preferred platform, his conservative social media outlet, where he praised Waltz’s “battlefield” credentials and loyalty during his tenure as NSA.

“Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first,” Trump wrote. “I know he will do the same in his new role.”

But the reassignment comes against a backdrop of internal tensions. Waltz had been under growing scrutiny following a high-profile security blunder in March, when he mistakenly added Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a secure Signal group chat discussing a classified military strike on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The error drew backlash and raised questions about operational discipline inside the National Security Council.

Although Trump initially dismissed the gaffe as a “lesson learned,” sources told ABC News that the president’s frustration with Waltz had been simmering for weeks.

“I’m deeply honoured to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation,” Waltz posted on X, accepting the nomination. If confirmed by the Senate, Waltz would replace Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who served in the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, Rubio—a central player in Trump’s foreign policy team—is being asked to double his load. While his appointment as interim NSA surprised many, insiders suggest Trump sees the Florida senator as a safe pair of hands during a tumultuous stretch of global unrest.

Rubio was reportedly on the phone with top White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, when the news broke. At the time, he was attending a National Day of Prayer event, unaware his responsibilities had just doubled.

At the State Department’s daily press briefing, spokesperson Tammy Bruce learned of the shake-up in real time, visibly caught off guard. “It is clear that I just heard this from you,” she told reporters with a surprised smile, before praising Rubio’s versatility and close rapport with the president. “These last 100 days, it’s like hanging onto a freaking bullet train,” she added.

Vice President JD Vance, speaking on Fox News, sought to downplay speculation that Waltz was fired over the Signal fiasco.

“If the president wanted to fire him over the Signal thing, which, by the way, was a total nothingburger of a story, he would’ve just done it,” Vance said. “We thought he’d make a better UN ambassador as we get beyond this stage of NSC reforms.”

Waltz had appeared earlier Thursday on Fox News, still operating in his NSA role. By the afternoon, however, he had disappeared from the White House prayer event and did not join Rubio or other Cabinet members.

Waltz attended Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, where he praised Trump’s leadership and applauded the administration’s 100-day achievements. But just 24 hours later, he was reassigned.

Trump, boarding Marine One for a trip to Alabama, ignored shouted questions from reporters about the real reasons behind Waltz’s departure.

Now, with Rubio shouldering two of the nation’s top diplomatic and security roles, the spotlight is on how long this dual assignment will last—and whether a permanent national security adviser will be named in the coming months.