May 3—Sources close to the White House today confirmed key details from a front-page Washington Post report regarding President Donald Trump's dismissal of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The firing reportedly stemmed from a phone call Waltz had late last month with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu—known among critics as the "Butcher of Gaza"—to discuss a potential Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
According to sources, Trump is angry about the situation but places more blame on Netanyahu than on Waltz, whom he appointed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Netanyahu reportedly floated an idea that had already been planted in NATO-aligned media—that Israel might move forward with an attack even without formal U.S. approval, regardless of a negotiated deal.
Waltz, one of the administration's most hawkish figures, shares this view with fellow Floridian, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who Trump named to serve as interim National Security Advisor. Both believe that no deal or inspection regime could truly prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons—especially if, as in the Obama-era agreement that Trump abandoned in 2018, Iran is permitted to maintain a large number of centrifuges capable of refining uranium to weapons-grade material.
Though the specifics of Waltz’s conversation with Netanyahu remain unclear, sources report that following their discussion, media reports began promoting a formulation implying that, even as negotiations with Iran continue, the U.S. might not publicly endorse an Israeli attack but could discreetly provide targeting assistance and other support to "pull it off."
Internal White House Tensions
Waltz and his team have faced mounting pressure from Trump’s far-right influencers, particularly social media personality Laura Loomer. Loomer, who has Trump’s ear, encouraged him to fire several key National Security Council staffers last month, arguing they were insufficiently loyal to the "America First" agenda. Waltz, despite his efforts to shield them, could not prevent the purge.
Loomer has also defended Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s diplomatic work, even as hawkish voices like Douglas Murray criticize it.
"Waltz was being played by Bibi, whom he admires as a hero," said one source. "Trump believes that Netanyahu should stay the f..k away from negotiations, which he wants to fail. There will be consequences for what Bibi did, sooner rather than later. And despite Netanyahu’s claims, he and Trump are absolutely not aligned on anything—including Iran. Trump does not want to bomb Iran and believes he is close to a viable deal, though several details remain unresolved."
The Iran Negotiations
Reuters reports that Trump hopes to announce at least a tentative agreement by May 12—two months after Iranian leadership received his letter initiating negotiations. Three meetings mediated by Oman have reportedly made "substantial progress," though a fourth was canceled due to "scheduling problems" and has yet to be rescheduled.
Several sticking points remain. Trump and his chief negotiator, Special Envoy Witkoff, agree that Iran should retain a peaceful nuclear program but remain undecided on the scope of uranium enrichment allowed. Sources indicate the administration is considering a radical proposal: a U.S.-Russia-Ukraine joint nuclear fuel and waste reprocessing facility, accompanied by a strict inspection regime with clear verification processes.
There is also pressure on Trump to address Iran’s advanced drone and missile production capabilities, which were not covered in the Obama-era agreement. Witkoff prefers to leave this issue out of current negotiations but is drafting a protocol stipulating that while Iran could maintain and develop missile weapons for its own use, it would be prohibited from selling them abroad.
Strategic Considerations & The Netanyahu Factor
Witkoff—under consideration to replace Waltz as National Security Advisor—acknowledges that no deal can outright prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, as it already possesses the technical knowledge.
"But Steve and the President recognize the deal must be viewed in a broader context," said a source. "Iran wants to come in from the cold and participate in the regional development projects the President envisions. That incentive could make nuclear weapons unnecessary."
Trump hopes to quickly lift many sanctions—a move Iran strongly favors—and sees Iran playing a major role in neutralizing groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which Tehran funds. This would be necessary for any broader Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
"This is not a reality Netanyahu can accept or desires," said the source. "He's going to do everything possible to sabotage these efforts. The play with Waltz is just one move—Trump will soon have to decide what to do about Bibi, the main obstacle to regional peace."