Trump’s “Soft Landing” for Ousted Loyalists
Trump reassigns struggling aides to cushy ambassadorships.
President Donald Trump is offering a diplomatic lifeline to top administration officials facing rocky tenures, reassigning them to prestigious ambassadorships rather than cutting ties. This strategy, a departure from the high-profile firings of his first term, keeps loyalists within his orbit while avoiding public criticism, sources say.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, nominated as United Nations ambassador, faced scrutiny after accidentally including a journalist in a Signal chat discussing military plans against Houthi militants in Yemen. Initially downplayed as a “glitch” by Trump, Waltz’s reassignment was announced on May 1 with praise: “Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first,” Trump posted. Vice President JD Vance dismissed claims of a firing, noting, “Trump doesn’t give Senate-confirmed appointments to people he fires.”
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, a former Fox News contributor and vocal Trump supporter, was named deputy representative to the U.N. after struggling to align with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s team. Bruce reduced State Department briefings from four or five weekly to two and often dodged questions on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and Ukraine. Despite this, Trump lauded her “fantastic job” and predicted she would “represent our Country brilliantly.” Bruce called the reassignment “a surprise” but expressed gratitude for continuing her service.
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Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long, the shortest-tenured IRS commissioner since 1862, was tapped as ambassador to Iceland after less than two months in office. Long’s tenure was marred by contradictions, including a claim that the IRS’ Direct File program would be eliminated, which was later corrected, and disagreements over sharing taxpayer data with immigration officials. Long celebrated his new role, posting, “Exciting times ahead!” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to detail Long’s removal but emphasized Trump’s confidence in his ability to serve in Iceland.
Unlike his first term, marked by frequent staff turnover and public dismissals reminiscent of his reality TV show “The Apprentice,” Trump’s second administration prioritizes loyalty. “It’s not like ‘The Apprentice,’” said John Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser turned critic, highlighting the shift. Ambassadorships, typically rewards for major donors, are now strategic tools to retain allies, with White House spokesperson Anna Kelly noting they are “highly coveted and reserved for the president’s most loyal supporters.”
These moves reflect Trump’s intent to maintain control over his political circle, ensuring former aides remain allies rather than critics, a lesson learned from his first term’s high-profile defections. While ambassadorships require Senate confirmation, Trump’s nominations signal a calculated approach to managing his administration’s image and influence on the global stage.
