TRANSCRIPT
When a top security advisor is ejected from the White House, it is a matter of national interest.
But the resignation of National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, was no surprise; neither to the public nor his political colleagues.
Reporter: "Do either of you Senators have any comment on the Michael Waltz news that just broke?"
Kaine: "Not surprised, but in the words of the late great John McCain, 'there's more shoes to fall off this centipede'."
That was Senator Tim Kaine - a Democratic Party Senator.
His disapproval of Mr Waltz is not strictly partisan; since a major security breach by Mr Waltz was exposed, both sides of politics agree his position has become untenable.
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer says he saw it coming.
"Donald Trump has a history of dismissing people rather quickly if they don't meet his expectation. On the case of Mike and Signalgate and all of that, it was a pretty big breach. It was a pretty big problem and personally I think he owned up to it, which is noble to begin with, and took full responsibility.”
On March 13th, army veteran Mike Waltz added a journalist to a Signal group chat in which military officials discussed detailed plans to strike Houthi targets in Yemen.
It was a monumental mistake and gave the Atlantic's editor-in-chief a front row seat to an unfolding military operation.
And when the same journalist wrote about the bizarre encounter, late in March, the fallout was immense.
“Mr. President, your reaction to the story in The Atlantic that said some of your top cabinet officials and aids had been discussing very sensitive material through Signal and included an Atlantic reporter in that. What is your response to that?”
“I don’t know anything about it. I’m not a big fan of The Atlantic. To me, it’s a magazine that’s going out of business. I think it’s not much of a magazine. But I know nothing about it. You’re saying that they had what?”
“They were using Signal to coordinate on sensitive materials…”
“Having to do with what? Having to do with what? What were they talking about?
“With the Houthis.”
“The Houthis? You mean the attack on the Houthis? Well it couldn’t have been very effective because the attack was very effective, I can tell you that. I don’t know anything about it. You’re telling me about it for the first time.”
It may have been the first time, but it wasn't the last that Mr Trump would hear about the saga, which is the subject of ongoing scrutiny.
Mr Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, resigned, and Mr Waltz has since been nominated as an ambassador to the United Nations.
Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, will now wear two hats; he is keeping his own job and taking on Mr Waltz's .
Donald Trump sang Mr Rubio's praises as he confirmed the appointment.
"Marco Rubio, unbelievable. Unbelievable. Marco, when I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved."
This news, however, did apparently catch State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce by surprise, as she addressed reporters' questions over the decision.
"Do you know how long he is going to be serving in both roles?"
"It is clear that ... I just heard this from you. I had I ... this is the the magic. We have to admit, these last 100 days, it's like hanging on to a freaking bullet train. I mean, it is. It is a fast dynamic, with people who have a journey that is set with a goal that has been determined and, it's, it's staffed with, men and women who understand what the agenda is and how to get it done."
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was in the notorious Signal group chat, too.
While Mr Waltz claimed responsibility for creating the group, several Democrat senators, including Mark Warner, say he should not have been the only one to fall on his sword.
"What I would really hope is that Pete Hegseth, who has been so much more inept than Mike Waltz. I would definitely invite Secretary Hegseth to come down to Norfolk, Virginia, the home port of the Truman, and explain to the family and friends of those sailors how having that information that could have been released and could have cost lives, explain to the family and friend of those sailors how that was appropriate.”
Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal was similarly scathing.
"The Trump security team is a hot mess and the one who should go is not the fall guy - Michael Waltz - it is the Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth who is responsible, who should be held accountable. He should be fired right now."
But there is no indication that will happen.
Secretary Hegseth has his Commander in Chief's support, as was clear in Mr Trump's address to visitors to the White House Rose Garden.
"Thanks as well to the great people that are here, Pete Hegseth, who is doing a fantastic job, Pete thank you."
Mr Hegseth is currently under investigation by the Pentagon over concerns about information security.
Also ex-military, he reportedly flouted security rules, using an unsecured computer near classified terminals.
