In a significant move, President Donald Trump has initiated the dismissal of several officials from the White House National Security Council (NSC). This decision comes swiftly after a meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer, who urged Trump to eliminate staff members she deemed insufficiently loyal to his Make America Great Again agenda. Sources familiar with the developments disclosed this information on Thursday, speaking under the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of personnel matters.
During the meeting held in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Loomer presented her findings to President Trump, advocating for the removal of specific NSC personnel. Notable attendees at the meeting included Vice President JD Vance, chief of staff Susie Wiles, and national security adviser Mike Waltz, along with Serio Gor, director of the Presidential Personnel Office. Following the discussions, the Presidential Personnel Office has reportedly moved to dismiss at least three senior NSC officials along with several lower-ranking aides.
Loomer, known for promoting conspiracy theories related to the 9/11 attacks, has been a prominent figure on the campaign trail during Trump's successful 2024 run for the White House. Recently, she has utilized social media to express concerns about certain members of Trump’s national security team, whom she claims cannot be trusted. In a post on X, Loomer stated, “It was an honor to meet with President Trump and present him with my research findings. I will continue working hard to support his agenda, and I will continue reiterating the importance of, and the necessity of STRONG VETTING, for the sake of protecting the President of the United States of America, and our national security.”
President Trump has a documented history of aligning with individuals who propagate falsehoods and conspiracy theories. He frequently amplifies posts from users like Loomer on his social media platform, which often includes content related to QAnon, a convoluted conspiracy theory suggesting that Trump is battling a so-called “deep state.” This latest move to purge staff appears to align with Trump’s pattern of seeking loyalty over expertise within his administration.
The recent shake-up comes at a critical time for the NSC, as adviser Mike Waltz faces backlash for utilizing the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive military operations. This includes planning for a March 15 operation targeting Houthi militants in Yemen, which became controversial when a journalist from The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to the conversation chain. Though Waltz has taken responsibility for the oversight, the incident has raised questions about the management of sensitive information within Trump's team.
In the lead-up to the meeting with Loomer, concerns were raised regarding Waltz’s staffing decisions, particularly his reliance on individuals labeled as “neocons.” Loomer had expressed dissatisfaction that she had been excluded from the NSC vetting process, believing that Waltz was appointing personnel who were not fully aligned with the MAGA philosophy. In his initial days back in the White House, Waltz dismissed around 160 non-political detailees from the NSC, aiming to ensure that all personnel were committed to implementing Trump’s America First agenda.
The implications of these personnel changes extend beyond the NSC, as seen with the recent firing of Adam Schleifer, an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. His dismissal occurred shortly after Loomer posted about him on social media, highlighting the potential influence of her advocacy on staffing decisions. As the Trump administration navigates an array of complex foreign policy challenges, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, these changes raise important questions about the future direction of U.S. national security strategy.
This article has been corrected to clarify that the surname of the Atlantic journalist is Goldberg, not Rosenberg.
