The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Their War Plans

[taiwan_girl]

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/24/hegseth-chief-of-staff-pentagon-leaving-00308721

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s controversial chief of staff, who played a central role in a power struggle that gripped the Pentagon, will exit the agency today.

Joe Kasper was originally expected to transition to another role within the Defense Department, but is now planning to go back to government relations and consulting, he said in an interview.

He will continue to support and advise the Pentagon, he said, but as a special government employee. This will limit him to performing temporary jobs for just 130 days a year.

A former longtime chief of staff to indicted Rep. Duncan Hunter, Kasper was a leading figure in the firings of senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Hegseth deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, the chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg. The trio were ousted last week in a leak investigation.

Some officials saw the wave of firings as a bid by Kasper to consolidate power.

“Kasper did not like that those guys had the secretary’s ear,” a person familiar with the dynamic said. “He did not like that they had walk-in and hanging-out privileges in the office. He wanted them out. It was a knife fight.”

[Doctor Phibes]

Kasper the unfriendly Ghost?

[Mik]

[jon-nyc]

[taiwan_girl]

@jon-nyc said in The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Their War Plans:

Yeah, maybe he lost his position, but that doesn't mean he can't be in the group. LOL. After all, Sec Hegseth had is wife and agent in.

[jon-nyc]

For those keeping score at home:

• Waltz lasted 9.2 Scaramuccis

• Waltz’s tenure was almost 5x that of Trump’s first NSA in his first term (Flynn), 101 days vs 22.

[jon-nyc]

As much as I wasn’t a fan, I imagine his replacement will be worse. Either someone sinister or of middling competence. Think Lavrov or Witkoff.

[Renauda]

I thought Rubio would be the first through the door. I was wrong.

I can only hope Witkoff soon follows Waltz through the door.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/05/01/trump-officials-alarmed-by-envoys-solo-talks-with-putin-nyp-a88946

[89th]

I find it interesting Waltz has left now that the story has slowly died its natural death in the newscycle.

[Mik]

Yeah, that occurred to me as well.

[jon-nyc]

He gave up a solid house seat for 100 days of this plus an embarrassing international story.

[jon-nyc]

Now they’re talking about giving him the UN ambassador role.

That would mean a senate hearing where they’d get to wash their dirty signalgate laundry publicly again, but this time with a modicum of respect for the questioners.

[jon-nyc]

@jon-nyc said in The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Their War Plans:

Now they’re talking about giving him the UN ambassador role.

Would that be a promotion technically? Clearly less influential under normal circumstances.

[89th]

Maybe Trump thinks it's pronounced the "unambassador" role?

[Renauda]

@jon-nyc said in The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Their War Plans:

@jon-nyc said in The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Their War Plans:

Now they’re talking about giving him the UN ambassador role.

Would that be a promotion technically? Clearly less influential under normal circumstances.

Strictly restricted to information on a need to know basis.

He is banished to the respectable political wilderness of diplomats. Essentially a communications director with the privilege of a holding diplomatic passport. Great opportunity to schmooze.