US President Donald Trump has stated he is thinking of naming Stephen Miller as the new National Security Adviser (NSA), following the removal of Mike Waltz. Waltz was dismissed after a Signal group he created for real-time military updates on Yemen accidentally included a journalist, raising major concerns. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he expects to name someone for the role within six months, but for now, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold the position on an interim basis.

Mike Waltz’s dismissal came after a significant communications breach. He had created a Signal group to share sensitive information about US military action in Yemen. However, a major mistake occurred when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to the chat. Additionally, Waltz had been using an app called TeleMessage, which resembles Signal in its layout and function, further raising concerns about the security of his communications. The controversy surrounding this breach led to his immediate removal from the NSA role.

Stephen Miller is currently serving as deputy chief of staff in the Trump administration. He has been a central figure in shaping some of the most debated policies during Trump’s first term, including the travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries and the controversial family separation policy at the US-Mexico border. Miller was also involved in the Signal group incident that led to Waltz’s ouster. He reportedly shut down internal discussions among senior officials over potential military action against Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Speaking about Miller, Trump said that he “sort of indirectly already has that job” and referred to him as “a very valued person in the administration.”

US President Donald Trump | Credit: X

After removing Waltz, Trump named Marco Rubio to serve as the interim National Security Adviser. Rubio will be holding both this role and his current position as Secretary of State for at least six months. Trump has not shown urgency in naming a permanent replacement and appears content to wait while evaluating his choices.

While Stephen Miller seems to be a top candidate, Trump is reportedly considering others as well. Steve Witkoff, a billionaire real estate investor, has become a trusted diplomatic figure in Trump’s circle. As Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, he has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine and has led preliminary negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

Ric Grenell is another name under consideration. He currently serves as the interim executive director of the Kennedy Center but was instrumental in negotiating the release of six American hostages from Venezuela in January. Grenell has also held several major positions in Trump’s earlier term, including acting director of national intelligence and ambassador to Germany.

Michael Anton, currently the State Department’s policy planning director, has emerged as a favorite among MAGA supporters. He recently led technical discussions with Iran on its nuclear program and accompanied Trump to the Vatican for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Sebastian Gorka, who served in Trump’s first term, is also in the picture. He was appointed deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism last November and continues to advise Trump on related issues.

The search for the next NSA is still underway, with Marco Rubio temporarily holding the position. While Stephen Miller appears to be a strong frontrunner, Trump is clearly keeping his options open. With trusted names like Witkoff, Grenell, Anton, and Gorka also being considered, the final decision could shape the direction of US security and diplomacy in Trump’s next term.