Mike Waltz Had His Choice of Jobs Before Deciding on U.N. Ambassador After Cabinet Departure: Report

The offer reportedly came from Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles, who gave Waltz the option to take on key ambassadorships, including the high-profile role of ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Waltz, a former Green Beret and congressman from Florida, opted instead for the UN posting. The White House confirmed the transition Thursday afternoon after reports of his departure surfaced earlier in the day.

Friday marked Waltz's final day at the White House. His departure comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares to take on dual responsibilities — temporarily assuming the role of national security adviser while continuing to lead the State Department.

Deputy National Security Adviser Alex Wong remains at the National Security Council for now and is helping with the transition, though internal discussions about his future are reportedly ongoing.

While the administration has presented the shift in roles as voluntary, it notably follows "Signalgate," the shorthand term for the media storm initiated by Waltz's addition of a journalist to a group chat of top government officials discussing sensitive military operations.