Friday Briefing
Briefly

President Trump has announced the removal of national security adviser Michael Waltz, appointing Secretary of State Marco Rubio as interim replacement. This move follows Waltz's controversial management of a sensitive military operation discussion, which resulted in a breach of confidentiality when a journalist was included accidentally. Trump's advisers had already expressed concerns regarding Waltz's hawkish stance amid the president's desire for diplomatic relations with Iran and Russia. The forthcoming selection of a new national security adviser is crucial as differing strategies on China, Russia, and Iran are at stake.
Top White House aides viewed Waltz as too hawkish to work for a president eager to reach a nuclear deal with Iran and normalize relations with Russia.
Waltz had organized a group chat discussing a sensitive military operation that inadvertently included a journalist, placing his position at risk.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security adviser, an unprecedented move since Henry Kissinger's dual-role during Nixon and Ford.
The selection of the next national security adviser will be critical given the differing views on handling relations with China, Russia, and Iran.
Read at www.nytimes.com
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