Who might Trump pick to replace Waltz as national security advisor?

On May 1, 2025, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and other National Security Council staffers were ousted from their positions in a high-profile executive office purge within the second Trump administration. The ousting came following a Signal chat leak debacle in March, where the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine was inadvertently added to a group chat discussing military strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen with high-profile Trump officials.

Speculation had been mounting for weeks about Waltz’s removal, but the administration maintained that no classified material was shared in the group chat and that the president had confidence in his National Security Council team. With Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, now out of their roles, President Trump is tasked with finding suitable replacements for these key positions.

One potential candidate to replace Waltz is Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff, a former real estate tycoon and longtime ally of the president, has been instrumental in negotiating with Russia for a peace deal in Ukraine and with Iran regarding its nuclear program. His recent efforts include securing the release of U.S. school teacher Marc Fogel from a Russian prison in February.

Another possible contender for the national security advisor role is Richard Grenell, the former ambassador to Germany and acting Director of National Intelligence under the first Trump administration. Grenell currently serves as the president of the Kennedy Center and has been considered for other high-profile positions in the administration.

Additionally, Rep. Elise Stefanik, who was previously nominated as Trump’s pick for ambassador to the U.N., could also be a potential candidate for the national security advisor position. However, her withdrawal from the U.N. ambassador nomination to focus on her role in Congress may complicate her selection for this new role.

As President Trump considers his options for filling these crucial national security positions, the White House remains focused on diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine and address other international security challenges. The selection of new advisors will be key in shaping the administration’s approach to these pressing issues.