Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Vance: Putin ‘Doesn’t Know How to End War,’ Creating ‘Impasse.’

🧠 PULSE POINTS:

WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President JD Vance says Putin “doesn’t quite know how to get out of the war,” creating an “impasse” that President Trump hopes to break in a direct call with the Russian leader.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: VP JD Vance, President Donald J. Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

🧾KEY QUOTES:

  • “Are you serious? Are you real about this?” – JD Vance on Trump’s expected question to Putin.

  • “Putin… doesn’t quite know how to get out of the war.”

  • “We’re still more than open to walking away.”

⚠️FALLOUT: Despite prisoner swaps and tentative proposals, Vance admits peace talks have stalled. Zelensky blasted Putin for failing to show up in Turkey.

IN FULL:

Vice President JD Vance told reporters Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “doesn’t quite know how to get out of the war,” as President Donald J. Trump prepared to confront him in a direct call scheduled for 10 AM. ET.

Vance, speaking aboard Air Force Two, said Trump would ask Putin if he is “serious” about ending the conflict in Ukraine, stressing that America will not “spin its wheels” in a futile negotiation.

“The talks have been proceeding for a little while. We realize that we’re at a bit of an impasse here,” Vance said. “I think the president’s going to say to President Putin, look, are you serious? Are you real about this?”

He described the state of negotiations as uncertain, noting that Putin “has made some concessions” but added, “We feel like we’re at a point where we’re hitting an impasse, and that’s why the president is talking to him on the phone.”

“I’m not sure that Vladimir Putin has a strategy himself for how to unwind the war,” Vance said. “I think, honestly, that President Putin, he doesn’t quite know how to get out of the war… I think the president would agree with that.”

Vance confirmed Trump’s willingness to disengage if the peace process proves unserious: “We’re still more than open to walking away,” he said. “We want to see outcomes.”

He said the U.S. was pleased to see the two warring parties “put a real peace proposal on the table” and begin to engage in face-to-face discussions. While Putin himself did not attend last week’s meeting in Turkey, both Russian and Ukrainian delegations met and reportedly agreed to a large-scale prisoner swap.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has agreed to meet with Putin, accused the Russian leader of cowardice for sending a “low-level” delegation, saying Putin was “afraid.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed Trump’s sense of urgency, telling The National Pulse that the president has grown weary and frustrated with both sides of the conflict.

Vance said Trump is ready for the moment: “I was just on the phone with him. I know he’s looking forward to it… I think he’s the right guy to negotiate for the country.”

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Germany Now Wants ‘Strongest Conventional Army in Europe.’

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What Happened: German Chancellor (Prime Minister) Friedrich Merz vowed to build “the strongest conventional army in Europe,” responding to President Donald J. Trump’s demands for America’s NATO allies to boost defense spending.

👥 Who’s Involved: Chancellor Merz, President Trump, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and former Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

📍Where & When: Bundestag, Berlin, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Strengthening the Bundeswehr is our top priority,” Merz declared. “The German government will provide all the financial resources the Bundeswehr needs to become Europe’s strongest conventional army.”

⚠️Impact: Trump’s pressure is reshaping NATO, pushing Germany to step up militarily. However, this may raise alarm bells in Russia and other countries that have historically fallen victim to German aggression.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump’s relentless push for European NATO allies to pull their weight is yielding results, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged on May 14, 2025, to transform the Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Forces) into “the strongest conventional army in Europe.” Speaking to the Bundestag (federal legislature) in his first major address since taking office, Merz credited Trump’s blunt demands for shaking Germany out of its post-Cold War complacency.

“This is appropriate for Europe’s most populous and economically powerful country,” Merz told lawmakers, vowing to provide “all financial means necessary” to overhaul the long-underfunded Bundeswehr. “Our friends and partners also expect this from us. Indeed, they practically demand it.” This nod to Trump, who has questioned Washington’s NATO commitment unless allies such as Germany spend more, highlights the America First leader’s influence in forcing Europe to confront its security shortcomings.

Germany’s military, mocked for faulty equipment like grounded helicopters and inaccurate rifles, has lagged since the Cold War, relying heavily on U.S. protection—while enriching adversary states like Russia through substantial energy deals. Merz’s pledge builds on former Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s 2022 allocation of €100 billion ($112 billion) to meet NATO’s two percent of GDP defense spending target, but parliamentary commissioner Eva Hoegl recently warned the Bundeswehr still has “too little of everything.”

Merz’s “bazooka” funding plan, worth hundreds of billions, aims to reverse this, with orders for German-built submarines already in motion—though delivery will take years.

Merz claims that Russia’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, stating, “Anyone who seriously believes that Russia would be satisfied with a victory over Ukraine… is mistaken.”

“Strength deters aggressors, while weakness invites aggression,” he said, reaffirming support for Ukraine but clarifying Germany’s non-combatant stance: “[W]e are not a party to war, and we don’t want to become one.”

To rebuild troop strength, Merz announced a “new, attractive voluntary military service,” though Defense Minister Boris Pistorius hinted conscription could return if volunteer numbers fall short. “We will initially rely on voluntary participation,” Pistorius said, stressing “initially” as a deliberate caveat.

Image by w?odi.

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Ukraine Accuses Hungary Over Alleged Spy Ring.

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What Happened: Ukrainian intelligence has arrested two people they accuse of spying for Hungary and attempting to find out if ethnic Hungarians in the country would favor Hungarian military intervention.

👥 Who’s Involved: Hungary, Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), two unnamed alleged spies, Hungarian Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations Zoltán Kovács.

📍 Where & When: Ukraine announced the arrests on May 9.

💬 Key Quote: “It is unprecedented in the country’s recent history that a domestic political actor would work in tandem with the intelligence services of a neighboring state.” — Zoltán Kovács.

⚠️ Impact: The allegations further inflame tensions between the two countries, which have been brewing since well before the start of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine in 2022.

IN FULL:

The Ukrainian government has accused Hungary of spying on its territory and allegedly trying to determine if ethnic Hungarians in the country would support an invasion by the Hungarian army. The claims have been fiercely dismissed by Hungarian authorities, who have linked the allegations to one of their country’s main opposition parties.

Media in Ukraine reported on May 9 that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) had uncovered the alleged Hungarian spy ring operating in the Transcarpathia region, home to many ethnic Hungarians. Hungary lost the territory to Ukraine following the First World War and the signing of the Treaty of Trianon.

The SBU arrested two Ukrainian citizens, who they alleged were seeking to find out if the locals would support an invasion by the Hungarian military to reclaim the land. SBU spokesman Artem Dekhtaryenko claimed the pair also collected information on Ukrainian military units and installations and tracked local government officials.

Hungarian Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Relations Zoltán Kovács dismissed the accusations as “political theater” in a blog post on May 9. Instead, he linked the accusations to what he called a “growing coordination” between Ukrainian intelligence and Hungary’s main opposition party, Tisza.

“It is unprecedented in the country’s recent history that a domestic political actor would work in tandem with the intelligence services of a neighboring state. This partnership, aimed at discrediting Hungary’s national security structures, amounts to an attack on sovereignty from within,” he said.

In response to the accusations, Hungary has expelled two Ukrainian diplomats who claim they are spies. Kovács stated that Hungary’s refusal to arm Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia made the country a target and said potential coordination between Tizsa and Ukrainian intelligence was “destabilizing.”

Hungary has clashed repeatedly with Ukraine since well before the full-scale war with Russia began in 2022. For instance, Hungary has accused Ukraine of forcing ethnic Hungarians to study only in Ukrainian at schools and generally repressing them, as well as cutting off Russian gas to Hungary proper. Ukraine, in turn, has been angered by Hungary refusing to allow weapons shipments to Ukraine via its territory and scrutinizing European Union (EU) aid.

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Hegseth Sets Deadline for Transgenders to Depart from Military.

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What Happened: Transgenders in the U.S. military are being given between 30 and 60 days to self-separate after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to enforce a ban on their service.

👥 Who’s Involved: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, approximately 1,000 transgender service members, and the Supreme Court.

📍 Where & When: U.S. military, with deadlines for self-separation being set by June 6 for active duty and July 7 for reservists, according to a Department of Defense (DOD) memo published on Thursday, May 9, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “After a SCOTUS victory for [President Trump], TRANS is out at the DOD,” Hegseth announced on X (formerly Twitter).

⚠️ Impact: The ruling affects military readiness policies and a broader effort to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the Department of Defense (DOD).

IN FULL:

The Department of Defense (DOD) has initiated a timeline for transgender service members to voluntarily separate from the military following a Supreme Court order clearing the way for a ban on their service in the U.S. military. A recent memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlines that approximately 1,000 service members who have identified as having gender dysphoria must begin the process of self-separation. Active duty members are required to exit by June 6, with reservists having until July 7 to comply.

This development follows the Supreme Court’s decision to stay a lower court ruling, effectively allowing the Trump administration’s ban on transgender troops to proceed. The administration argues that this policy is essential for maintaining military readiness, unit cohesion, and avoiding the disproportionate costs associated with transgenders’ need for often lifelong medical care.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating: “The Secretary is encouraged by the Supreme Court’s order staying the lower court’s injunction, allowing the Department of Defense to carry out its policies associated with ‘Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness.'”

Hegseth, in an announcement on X (formerly Twitter), declared, “After a SCOTUS victory for [President Trump], TRANS is out at the DOD.” He further noted that service members with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria could choose to separate voluntarily by the set deadlines, or face involuntary removal if they fail to do so.

The Trump administration’s policy, initially introduced via Executive Order in January, mandates updates to medical standards to prioritize readiness and lethality. It also seeks to eliminate the use of invented and identification-based pronouns within the Department of Defense.

The Pentagon’s move is part of a broader initiative to eliminate policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and gender ideology. Hegseth recently announced that nearly all DEI-related policies have been removed from the Department, alongside efforts to standardize fitness tests for men and women.

From January 2016 to May 2021, the Department of Defense reportedly spent around $15 million on transgender treatments for active-duty service members. This financial aspect has been a point of contention in discussions about military spending and readiness.

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Trump Calls for 30-Day Ceasefire Between Russia and Ukraine, Threatens Sanctions on Both if Not Upheld.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: President Donald J. Trump is once again pushing for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, threatening sanctions if either country violates the suspension of hostilities. He hopes a ceasefire can pave the way for a peace deal between the warring nations.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

📍 Where & When: President Trump called for a ceasefire in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions,” President Trump warned.

⚠️ Impact: With the Russian economy beginning to show signs of strain under current U.S. sanctions, and Putin even expressing a desire to re-establish access to Western markets, the 30-day ceasefire demand may be too much for him to pass up. The Russian leader has already signalled he is open to a shorter-term cessation of hostilities. However, this may be the final efforts of the Trump White House to broker an end to the conflict before washing their hands of the issue.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump is calling for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, threating that the United States and its partners will impose crippling sanctions on whichever of the two nations either refuse the agreement or violate it. The America First leader outlined the ceasefire proposal in a post on Truth Social late Thursday, May 8, 2025.

“The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Hopefully, an acceptable ceasefire will be observed, and both Countries will be held accountable for respecting the sanctity of these direct negotiations,” Trump wrote, continuing: “If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions.”

He added: “Thousands of young soldiers are dying on a weekly basis, and everybody should want it to STOP. I do, and the United States of America does, also. As President, I will stay committed to securing Peace between Russia and Ukraine, together with the Europeans, and a Lasting Peace it will be!”

Trump emphasized that the ceasefire demand is intended to “ultimately build toward a Peace Agreement” and that it must be done “quickly.” Additionally, President Trump offered to be “available on a moment’s notice” to help broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier in the week, Trump expressed his disgust and anger with the intransigence shown by both the Russian and Ukrainian governments toward a peace deal. Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, D.C., said that Russia is “asking for too much” in return for ending its war against neighboring Ukraine, highlighting the Trump White House’s continued frustration with reaching an elusive peace settlement.

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SCOTUS Sides With Trump Effort to Ban Transgenders from Military.

The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a major win on Tuesday, overturning a lower court ruling that blocked his ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military.

Back up: In January, President Trump signed an executive order that banned transgenders from serving in the military. In March, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of this order.

The details: In a brief order released Tuesday afternoon, the Supreme Court granted Trump’s emergency request to overturn the lower court ruling, after the administration argued it hindered the U.S. military readiness.

  • The three liberal justices—Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson—would deny Trump’s request.

What Americans think: A recent poll found that most Americans, 54 percent, approve of Trump’s ban on transgender troops.

What happens next: Litigation over the constitutionality of Trump’s order will continue. But while that plays out, his ban can go into effect.

Why Trump’s right on the issue: It is longstanding Department of Defense policy that service members are “[f]ree of medical conditions or physical defects that may reasonably be expected to require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization.” The military isn’t an office computer job. It’s the literal line of defense between us and our enemies. There is no room for radical gender ideology.

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The Supreme Court handed the Trump administration a major win on Tuesday, overturning a lower court ruling that blocked his ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military. show more

Trump Announces Houthis Have ‘Capitulated’ as Oman Confirms Ceasefire.

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❓ What Happened: President Donald J. Trump announced a ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have agreed to halt attacks on Red Sea shipping after intense U.S. airstrikes. Oman mediated the deal, ensuring mutual non-aggression and safe passage for international trade.

👥  Who’s Involved: President Trump, the Houthis, Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.

📍 Where & When: Yemen’s Red Sea coast and the White House, announced May 6, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “[The Houthis] just don’t want to fight, and we will honour that and we will stop the bombings, and they have capitulated,” Trump said.

⚠️  Impact: The agreement restores stability to a critical global trade route, potentially easing economic pressures, but skepticism remains about the Houthis’ compliance.

IN FULL:

President Donald Trump has secured a significant geopolitical win, securing a ceasefire with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis to halt their attacks on Red Sea shipping. Speaking alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the White House, Trump revealed that the Houthis had “capitulated” after relentless U.S. airstrikes, which targeted 1,000 sites in Yemen since March 2024. The deal, mediated by Oman, ensures neither side will target the other, safeguarding a vital artery for global trade.

“[The Houthis] just don’t want to fight, and we will honour that and we will stop the bombings, and they have capitulated,” Trump said, adding that the group “say they will not be blowing up ships anymore”—and that securing such an undertaking was the purpose of the strikes.

The America First leader underscored the importance of the agreement, noting it aligns with U.S. objectives to secure freedom of navigation. Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi confirmed the deal, stating it guarantees “the smooth flow of international commercial shipping” through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The Houthis’ campaign of violence began in late 2023, ostensibly in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s military operations in Gaza following Hamas’s October 2023 terror raid against the Jewish State. Their barrage of missiles and drone strikes sank two vessels, and they seized another, killing or kidnapping a number of sailors and forcing major shipping firms to reroute around southern Africa. This disrupted nearly 15 percent of global seaborne trade, spiking costs and straining supply chains.

Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth greatly intensified U.S. military pressure on the group, culminating in their decision to stand down.

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BREAKING: India Strikes Pakistan, Cuts Off Water Supply — Reports.

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❓What Happened: India launched missile strikes on three locations in Pakistan—Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Ahmed Pur East in Bahawalpur—citing Pakistan’s alleged role in a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, in Indian Kashmir. It has has also suspended the Indus Water Treaty, cutting off water to Pakistan.

👥 Who’s Involved: India’s military, Pakistan’s military, Pakistani Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.

📍 Where & When: Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Bahawalpur District, Pakistan, on May 6, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Pakistan would respond to Indian attacks at the time and place of our own choosing. These attacks would not go unanswered,” Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated.

⚠️ Impact: The strikes heighten the risk of a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors, with both sides on edge and diplomatic efforts struggling to de-escalate.

IN FULL:

India has launched missile strikes on three sites in Pakistan: Kotli and Muzaffarabad in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Ahmed Pur East in Bahawalpur. The attacks, which Pakistan’s military called “unprovoked,” follow India’s claims that Pakistan was behind a brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, in Indian Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000.

According to Indian sources, including reports from The Times of India, New Delhi believes the Pahalgam attack bore hallmarks of Pakistan-backed militancy, pointing to alleged “cross-border linkages” involving groups operating from Pakistani soil. Indian officials have long accused Pakistan of harboring terrorists who infiltrate Indian Kashmir, which Pakistan claims, to destabilize the region. India’s decision to grant its military “operational freedom” reflects its frustration with what it sees as Pakistan’s complicity in fostering violence across the Line of Control.

Additionally, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, stopping the flow of water into Pakistan. “India’s water used to go outside; it will now stop for India’s interests and will be utilised for the country,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pakistan’s Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations, vowed that “Pakistan would respond to Indian attacks at the time and place of our own choosing.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons.

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Half of ‘Britons’ Say They’re Unwilling to Fight for The Country.

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What Happened: Nearly half of Britons surveyed say they would refuse to fight for their country “under any circumstances.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Ipsos survey respondents, Richard Gill, a former British Army officer.

📍 Where & When: United Kingdom, ahead of Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemorations on May 5.

💬 Key Quote: “We’ve stopped teaching pride in our country, its history, and its values… A nation unsure of itself cannot expect its people to defend it. That must change.” — Richard Gill.

⚠️ Impact: The findings highlight a decline in patriotic sentiment, with significant gender and political divides.

IN FULL:

A recent Ipsos survey reveals a significant decline in patriotic sentiment among Britons, with nearly half of those surveyed expressing an unwillingness to fight for their country “under any circumstances.”

The survey, which queried over 1,000 adults, found that only 35 percent of respondents would be willing to take up arms in a time of war, while a notable 48 percent stated there were no conditions under which they would go to war for Britain. An additional 17 percent said they were unsure of their stance.

The survey results emerge as the United Kingdom prepares for Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) commemorations, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, with celebrations including a military procession through central London on May 5.

Richard Gill, a former British Army officer with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, commented on the survey’s implications, suggesting a “deeper national malaise” as the root cause. He warned, “We’ve stopped teaching pride in our country, its history, and its values. A nation unsure of itself cannot expect its people to defend it. That must change.”

The survey also uncovered notable gender and age disparities. While nearly half of the men surveyed (49 percent) expressed a willingness to fight, only 21 percent of women shared the same sentiment. Among younger respondents aged 18 to 34, 42 percent indicated they would volunteer, whereas willingness significantly decreased to 28 percent among those aged 35 to 54, with over half of this group asserting they would never take up arms.

Political affiliations also played a role in respondents’ willingness to fight. Supporters of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party were the most inclined to defend their country—despite the establishment media and political parties attempting to paint them as Russian stooges—contrasting sharply with supporters of the fanatically pro-European Union (EU) Liberal Democrats, who were the least likely to do so.

Mass migration has also likely been a contributing factor in the strength of feeling towards the nation, with many first and second generation migrants more likely to fight for the nation from which they came, rather than the one in which they reside.

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Trump Fired Waltz After Iran Bomb Conspiracy With Netanyahu – REPORT.

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❓What Happened: President Donald Trump dismissed his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, after reports emerged that Waltz conspired with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran.

👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump, Mike Waltz, Benjamin Netanyahu, Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

📍 Where & When: White House, United States, dismissal announced on May 3, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “Waltz wanted to take US policy in a direction Trump wasn’t comfortable with because the US hadn’t attempted a diplomatic solution.”

⚠️ Impact: Waltz’s dismissal led to his reassignment as the ambassador to the United Nations, prompting an administrative reshuffle within Trump’s team.

IN FULL:

President Donald Trump dismissed Mike Waltz from the position of national security adviser amid alleged conspiracies involving Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Waltz, who previously served as head of the National Security Council, allegedly coordinated military strategies with Netanyahu during a February meeting, stirring significant controversy in the administration.

Reports emerged suggesting that Trump was displeased with Waltz’s apparent alliance with Netanyahu on military moves against Iran. A source indicated Waltz “shared the Israeli leader’s conviction” regarding Iran strikes, diverging from Trump’s preference for diplomatic routes.

Waltz’s exit follows previous controversies, including a messaging mishap known as “Signalgate,” in which a top globalist editor was added to a chat about a military operation against Yemen’s Houthi group. This added to the discomfort surrounding Waltz’s position, although the White House has not explicitly commented on either incident.

This shift sees former Green Beret Waltz now positioned as ambassador to the United Nations, described by some Trump insiders as a “downgrade.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio temporarily assumes Waltz’s responsibilities within the National Security Council.

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