President Donald Trump, in an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” addressed recent shifts within his national security team and defended key officials following scrutiny over their involvement in an unsecured text chain where sensitive information was reportedly shared.
Interviewer Kristen Welker questioned the President about the reassignment of former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz to the position of U.N. Ambassador, asking directly if the move was a “punishment” related to the text chain incident.
“No,” President Trump responded firmly. “I just think he’ll do a nice job in the new position.” He praised Waltz’s qualifications, stating, “he’s a fine guy… knows the countries, knows leadership. And I think he’ll do a very good job at the United Nations.”
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Trump confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently handling the duties of the National Security Advisor in addition to his primary role, describing Rubio’s performance as “outstanding” and “something special.”
However, the President indicated this dual role is temporary for Rubio, stating, “Marco won’t keep — Marco’s very busy doing other things, so he’s not going to keep it long term. 2 We’re going to put somebody else in.”
When asked about potential candidates for the permanent National Security Advisor position, including long-time aide Stephen Miller, Trump dismissed the idea for Miller, suggesting it would be insufficient for his stature. “Well, I’d love to have Stephen there, but that would be a downgrade,” Trump said. “Stephen is very — Stephen is much higher on the totem pole than that, in my opinion.”
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The President remained non-committal about a frontrunner for the NSA role, saying, “I have a lot of people that want it… Everybody wants to be a part of this administration.” He floated the possibility, referencing Henry Kissinger’s tenure, that one person could potentially hold both the Secretary of State and National Security Advisor roles indefinitely, confirming Secretary Rubio “could” continue in both capacities, though adding, “I think he even would like to probably see [someone else appointed] — because it is a little bit different.”
Welker also pressed the President on the job security of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was reportedly also part of the same unsecured text chain. Asked if he was looking for a new defense secretary, Trump was emphatic: “No. Not even a little bit. No. Pete’s going to be great.”
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When asked directly if Hegseth’s job was safe, Trump praised his performance, specifically mentioning military actions against Houthi forces in the Middle East. “We’re doing a fantastic job against the Houthis… We’re hitting them very hard. No, he’s doing a very good job,” Trump stated, concluding definitively, “Totally safe.”
The interview segment highlighted the ongoing adjustments within the Trump administration’s national security apparatus and the President’s defense of officials involved in the texting controversy, emphasizing performance over the past security lapse.
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