Over the weekend, President Trump signaled he plans to appoint a new National Security Adviser within the next six months after last week’s major shakeup.
Trump spoke with reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night, where he was asked about several topics, including the trade deals, Mexican cartels and the national security advisor position.
One reporter asked the president about Mike Waltz’s exit as the national security advisor, which the president said he was being selected for what he called a “higher position,” or an “upgrade.”
Trump also defended Waltz and said he did not make any mistakes, and, as the ambassador to the UN, he would do a good job.
“I didn’t lose confidence in him,” Trump said. “He’s going to the United Nations for a reason. To me, I think it’s personally, if I had assurance for myself… I’d rather have that job than the other.”
He also reiterated that Waltz did not resign, but instead, Trump moved him.
“There was no resignation,” the president said.
Waltz and other National Security Council staffers were ousted from their office on Thursday in the most high-profile executive office exits of the second Trump administration. Trump’s announcement on naming Waltz as U.N. ambassador unfolded just hours after the news began circulating.
Trump told reporters Sunday that he plans to appoint someone to the national security advisor position within six months, saying there are a lot of people who want the job, which works into Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s – the interim national security advisor – current responsibilities.
