Trump relights Signalgate with Michael Waltz nomination

• Justin Green,
• Hans Nichols

Surprise! Rather than firing national security adviser Michael Waltz after Signalgate, President Trump is sending him through the gauntlet of a Senate confirmation process.

Why it matters: Waltz is the first big-name ouster in Trump 2.0. But instead of a quiet exit, he — and his still-active use of Signal — will face Senate Democrats who are craving a chance to show how much they hate Trump.

• Waltz will be the nominee for UN ambassador, giving Senate Dems the klieg lights of a confirmation hearing to draw attention to the text messages that still light up Waltz's phone.

The UN job was supposed to go to Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who then was told the House majority was at stake if she left. That debacle complicated her relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who is trying to draw her back into the fold.

• Stefanik now has to watch Waltz get a shot at the job she was promised after he lasted 102 days in his first Trump role.
• It was the special election to backfill Waltz's House seat in a heavily red Florida district that spooked Trump into pulling Stefanik's nomination.
• Vice President Vance tried to argue today Waltz's new position is a promotion. But "the UN really doesn't matter," a White House adviser said when Trump pulled Stefanik's nomination in March.

Zoom in: Waltz was photographed on Signal on Wednesday by a Reuters photographer.

• "I look forward to a thorough confirmation hearing," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) posted on X in reference to the Reuters photo.
• Names on the screen — which White House comms director Steven Cheung said was an authorized app on a government phone — included "JD Vance" and what appeared to be "Rubio," "Witkoff" and "Gabbard."

Between the lines: Waltz's problems in the role ran deeper than Signalgate, as Axios reported Thursday.

• He treated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles dismissively, they report. And he got on conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer's radar, who urged Trump to fire many of Waltz's hires.
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https://www.axios.com/2025/05/02/michael-waltz-trump-signal-controversy