Trump Fires NSC Officials After Meeting With Far-Right Activist

President Donald Trump has dismissed several officials from the National Security Council (NSC) following an Oval Office meeting with far-right activist Laura Loomer. The meeting, which took place a day before the firings, saw Loomer expressing her concerns about the loyalty of certain NSC staff members to Trump's "Make America Great Again" agenda. Trump, however, downplayed Loomer's influence on the decision, stating that the dismissals were part of a routine process of removing individuals deemed unfit for their roles or suspected of having divided loyalties.

The firings come at a time of considerable turmoil within Trump's national security team. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has been under scrutiny for using the publicly available encrypted Signal app to discuss sensitive military operations, including a recent strike on Houthi militants in Yemen. Trump has publicly supported Waltz, who accompanied him to Florida for a dinner event ahead of the LIV Golf tournament in Miami. The Pentagon's acting inspector general has announced a review into the use of Signal by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other defense officials, a move that Trump found irritating.

The meeting with Loomer was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Waltz, and Sergio Gor, the director of the Presidential Personnel Office. The Presidential Personnel Office has since fired at least three senior NSC officials and multiple lower-ranking aides. Among those dismissed are Brian Walsh, a director for intelligence; Thomas Boodry, a senior director for legislative affairs; and David Feith, a senior director for technology and national security.

Loomer, known for promoting conspiracy theories, has been a vocal critic of certain members of Trump's national security team, insisting that they cannot be trusted. She has been active on social media, sharing her research findings and advocating for stronger vetting processes within the NSC. Trump, who has a history of associating with individuals who promote falsehoods and conspiracy theories, described his talks with Loomer as "constructive" and acknowledged that she had recommended certain people for jobs.

The use of Signal for operation planning became public knowledge when a journalist was mistakenly added to the communication chain. Waltz has taken responsibility for building the text chain but has stated that he does not know how the journalist ended up being included. The incident has raised questions about the security protocols within Trump's national security team and their ability to handle sensitive information.

Loomer had previously complained to administration officials about being excluded from the NSC vetting process, believing that Waltz was too reliant on neoconservatives and individuals she deemed not sufficiently aligned with the MAGA agenda. Senator Mike Rounds expressed concern over the firings, noting that it was unusual to see respected individuals from the intelligence community being dismissed.

Waltz's early actions in Trump's return to Washington included sending about 160 nonpolitical detailees assigned to the NSC back to their home agencies. This move was intended to ensure that those remaining at the White House were committed to implementing Trump's America First agenda. However, it also sidelined nonpolitical experts on critical issues such as counterterrorism and global climate policy, at a time when the United States is dealing with complex foreign policy matters, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The firings and the subsequent review of communication protocols within the NSC highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Trump's administration in maintaining a cohesive and secure national security team. The incident also underscores the influence of far-right activists and conspiracy theorists on Trump's decision-making processes, raising questions about the future direction of his administration's policies.