Trump's homeland security adviser unexpectedly resigning

Tom Bossert is just the latest high-level White House official to resign.

April 10, 2018, 12:33 PM

In an unexpected move, President Donald Trump's homeland security adviser, Tom Bossert, is resigning, the White House announced Tuesday, and the reason was unclear.

“The President is grateful for Tom’s commitment to the safety and security of our great country. Tom led the White House’s efforts to protect the homeland from terrorist threats, strengthen our cyber defenses, and respond to an unprecedented series of natural disasters. President Trump thanks him for his patriotic service and wishes him well,” Press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

PHOTO: In this file photo taken on May 11, 2017 Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert speaks during the daily briefing at the White House.
In this file photo taken on May 11, 2017 Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert speaks during the daily briefing at the White House. US President Donald Trump's administration was hit with a fresh resignation on April 10, 2018, as Bossert -- a presidential favorite -- announced his departure from the White House. "The president is grateful for Tom's commitment to the safety and security of our great country," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said of his departure. / AFP PHOTO / Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

The White House did not specify when Bossert's resignation will take effect but the announced departure comes the day after the president's new national security adviser, John Bolton, started in his role and comes against the backdrop of a series of high-level departures from the Trump administration in recent weeks.

It also comes two days after National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton resigned from the administration. The president called Anton on Sunday to thank him for his service, according to a senior White House official, and Sanders praised him as “one of the smartest and most talented individuals I’ve ever worked with.”

PHOTO: White House Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert answers questions during a White House briefing Sept. 11, 2017 in Washington, DC.
White House Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert answers questions during a White House briefing Sept. 11, 2017 in Washington, DC.

On Sunday, Bossert sat down exclusively with ABC News' Martha Raddatz for an interview on "This Week," in which he defended the president's decision to send National Guard troops to the southern border with Mexico to support U.S. Border Patrol agents and said that all options are on the table for a potential response to the suspected chemical attack in Syria.

PHOTO: Homeland security advisor Tom Bossert speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House, Sept. 8, 2017, in Washington.
Homeland security advisor Tom Bossert speaks during a press conference in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House, Sept. 8, 2017, in Washington.

“I wouldn’t take anything off the table,” Bossert told Raddatz. “These are horrible photos [from the alleged attack]. We’re looking into the attack at this point.”

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