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Far-right activist Laura Loomer was among those to praise President Donald Trump's plan to fire National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Thursday morning. Loomer was vocal in her disapproval of Waltz and others on the National Security Council (NSC), after the so-called Signal-gate, in which Waltz used the encrypted messaging app to discuss a military operation. "Hopefully, the rest of the people who were set to be fired but were given promotions at the NSC under Waltz also depart," Loomer said on X, formerly Twitter.
Why It Matters MAGA supporters like Loomer have continued to be influential during the second Trump administration. Trump fired several senior NSC officials shortly after she visited the White House in early April, when she reportedly told him that they were not loyal enough to his "Make America Great Again" agenda. Laura Loomer arrives at Philadelphia International Airport on The Trump Organization's Boeing 757 on September 10, 2024.
Laura Loomer arrives at Philadelphia International Airport on The Trump Organization's Boeing 757 on September 10, 2024. Julia Beverly/Getty Images What To Know It was reported Thursday morning that Trump was planning to fire Waltz, a former Florida Congressman, and his deputy, Alex Wong. The move comes more than a month after an incident in which Waltz added The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat on Signal, where he and other senior Cabinet members discussed an attack on the Houthis.
There was heavy criticism of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over his discussion of military plans in the group chat, but Waltz's actions, such as adding Goldberg to the conversation in the first place, drew the most attention. Waltz accepted responsibility for the mistake, but remained in his position. Loomer, a visible figure during Trump's 2024 campaign, met with the president in early April to discuss her concerns around the NSC and its staff.
Shortly after, a select number were removed by Trump. She said she was going to continue her independent vetting of his administration. Trump praised Loomer as a "very good patriot" following her visit in early April and said she had made recommendations on appointments and firings, but later stated that she had nothing to do with the NSC aides who were ousted at the time.
The president previously insisted that Waltz had learned his lesson and would remain in his post, despite Loomer's call for his removal. She was said to believe Waltz relied too heavily on "neocons"—a term often used to describe hawkish Republicans—and officials she saw as not sufficiently aligned with MAGA ideology. What People Are Saying Laura Loomer, on X: "VETTING MATTERS.
Don't ever forget that." The Conservative Alternative, a group with 41,000 followers on X, in response to Loomer: "Seems like the White House should probably hire you for this purpose. You were the one who sounded the alarm on Alex Wong a month ago."
Paul A. Szypula, who has more than 300,000 followers on X: "Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump actually fires people who don't get the job done. Mike Waltz is the first notable firing of the Trump administration. He certainly won't be the last.
Trump is ruthless in that regard. That's good." Conservative commentator Owen Shroyer, in a video on X: "They tried to get Hegseth's scalp and it didn't work.
So this is great news, this is an excellent decision by Donald Trump." What Happens Next Trump had not yet officially commented on Waltz's departure as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, but more details were expected imminently.
