American media reported that U.S. President Donald Trump has begun dismissing several senior officials from the National Security Council.
According to CNN, three officials have been confirmed dismissed so far in what has been described as an "internal purge." They are:
- Brian Walsh, Director of Intelligence Affairs, who previously served as a senior staffer for Senator Marco Rubio (currently Secretary of State) on the Senate Intelligence Committee.
- Thomas Baudry, Senior Director for Legislative Affairs, who formerly held the position of legislative director for Michael Waltz in Congress.
- David Feith, Senior Director for Technology and National Security, who served in the State Department during Trump's first administration.
The dismissals came just one day after controversial activist Laura Loomer visited the White House, where she met with Trump in the Oval Office and presented "evidence and research" implicating several National Security Council staff members in promoting "neoconservative agendas" within the administration, according to Axios.
While Axios could not confirm a direct link between Loomer's visit and the dismissal decisions, a well-informed source indicated that the move is seen as a "blow to neoconservatives" within the National Security team. The source added that Loomer expressed strong anger over the "infiltration of neoconservatives" into sensitive positions in the U.S. administration, claiming it contradicts Trump's foreign policy vision. An American official stated that Loomer provided detailed information to the White House during her visit, which had been previously disclosed in media reports.
The same source revealed that the number of dismissed staff could reach ten, including senior directors. The National Security Council spokesperson did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
The Associated Press learned from its sources on Thursday that Trump is moving to dismiss several National Security Council officials due to concerns that they are "not sufficiently loyal."
It remains unclear whether the dismissals are linked to the ongoing controversy surrounding National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and his team's use of the Signal app and private email to discuss sensitive matters, including plans for military strikes in Yemen.
This issue sparked widespread debate when the name of The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal conversation. This incident embarrassed Waltz, especially since Goldberg is described by Trump supporters as a "neoconservative."
At the height of what has been dubbed the "Signal Scandal," Trump considered dismissing Waltz but ultimately decided to retain him and avoid offering his "head" to critics.