Signal fallout: National security shake-up rocks Washington

Both Mike Waltz, the United States National Security Advisor, and his Deputy, Alex Nelson Wong, are set to leave the American administration, as CBS News reported on Thursday afternoon Eastern Time, along with other American media outlets. Later in the evening, Fox News confirmed that the resignation had taken place and that Waltz had indeed lost his position. His deputy, Alex Nelson Wong, is also expected to depart. The White House has not commented on these reports yet. It's noteworthy that the resignation comes about a month after the events referred to as "Signalgate".

Waltz was one of the participants in a chat on the Signal messenger app, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth provided detailed information about a planned American attack on Yemeni Houthi rebels. The chat was unsecured, and Waltz mistakenly included "The Atlantic" journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, who subsequently wrote about the experience in the magazine.

Following the news of Waltz's forthcoming departure, there was quick speculation overseas that the next member of the American government facing resignation may be the aforementioned Defense Secretary and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth.

Hegseth has long been in trouble. Not only was it revealed that he shared sensitive information about the planned attack on a chat with Waltz and Goldberg, but also on a chat with his wife, brother, and lawyer. Recently, American media also reported that the Pentagon chief brought his wife, Jennifer, to at least two meetings where security matters were discussed. Hegseth's wife is a former Fox News journalist.

The media also reported that the defense secretary ordered a professional makeup studio for his office. An official Defense Department representative denied these reports, assuring that Hegseth, before his television appearances, does his makeup and does not need a professional studio. It's worth noting that Pete Hegseth is a former Fox News presenter.

At the end of April, unofficial information emerged that the White House had started looking for a candidate to replace Hegseth as Defense Secretary. Interestingly, until recently, many commentators assessed that his position was not in jeopardy because removing him would suggest that Donald Trump was admitting a mistake.

CNN emphasized that Trump invested a lot of political capital in Hegseth, and the former television presenter "reflects the rebellious political identity and instincts" of the president. So far, Donald Trump has publicly defended the defense secretary, saying that the media and critics attack him because he is making significant and necessary changes in his department and the Pentagon. According to the U.S. President, Hegseth's negative publicity partly stems from disgruntled former employees who were laid off as a result of a wide-ranging employment cut initiative.