WASHINGTON, US Apr 4 – US President Donald Trump has said he will get rid of any staff deemed to be disloyal, as it emerged at least three officials at the White House National Security Council had been fired.
It is not clear why the employees were removed, but the decision followed a meeting between Trump and far-right activist Laura Loomer on Wednesday.
Loomer reportedly urged Trump to fire specific employees whom she suspected of lacking support for the president’s agenda.
Those fired from the NSC on Thursday include Brian Walsh, a Director for Intelligence; Thomas Boodry, a Senior Director for Legislative Affairs; and David Feith, a Senior Director overseeing Technology and National Security, reports the BBC’s US partner CBS.
The firings follow a major controversy involving the National Security Council last month when senior officials inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal messaging thread about military strikes in Yemen.
The extent to which that controversy played a role in the firings is unclear.
Trump has so far stood by top officials involved in the incident, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who took responsibility for the Atlantic magazine reporter being added to the Signal chat, and said it was an accident.
Aboard Air Force One en route to Miami, Florida, on Thursday, Trump praised Ms Loomer and confirmed he had met with her, calling her a “great patriot” and a “very strong person”.
“She makes recommendations… sometimes I listen to those recommendations,” he said. “I listen to everybody and then I make a decision.”
In a phone call with the BBC, Ms Loomer said it would be “inappropriate” to divulge details of her meeting with Trump on Wednesday.
“It was a confidential meeting,” she said. “It’s a shame that there are still leakers at the White House who leaked this information.”
She texted a statement that said: “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 STRONG VETTING, for the sake of protecting the President of the United States of America and our national security.”
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who posted information in the chat, is now the subject of an internal review into his use of Signal and whether he complied with his department’s policies, the Pentagon’s office of the acting inspector general said on Thursday.
Inspector general offices routinely conduct independent investigations and audits of federal agencies, and look into possible security breaches.