A top White House national security adviser has announced his resignation as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, marked by recent attacks on allied vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Deputy national security adviser Andy Baker is expected to leave the administration within the next few weeks.
Baker, described as a longtime ally of Vice President JD Vance, played a significant role in shaping and implementing the Trump administration's foreign policy over the past 18 months. His departure follows that of Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who announced her resignation days earlier.
Baker was also instrumental in the peace negotiations with Iran, including the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June. However, Tehran has since withdrawn from the agreement and has engaged in attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil transport. On Thursday night, drone attacks targeted two oil tankers operated by Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company in the Persian Gulf. While the vessels sustained minor damage and no casualties were reported, the United Arab Emirates denounced the incident as an act of piracy and a threat to energy security.
The attacks have significantly reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with only nine commodity vessels passing through on Thursday, a stark contrast to the August daily average of 12, and pre-war levels exceeding 100 vessels per day. Iran asserts control over the Strait, while the U.S. maintains a naval blockade aimed at bringing Tehran back to negotiations.
Baker has been a key advisor to President Trump on maintaining this blockade and is known for his hawkish stance on China. Sources indicate Baker is leaving to spend more time with his family and stayed on longer than initially planned to ensure a smooth transition.
"This has been an amazing journey. I'm proud of everything we've achieved and, of course, am incredibly grateful to the President, Vice President, and Secretary Rubio," Baker told Axios. Baker's career began at the State Department before he joined JD Vance's staff, eventually following him to the White House. Vance praised Baker as "an exceptionally gifted, deeply thoughtful advisor who has served the President and me with distinction."
The ongoing situation in the Strait of Hormuz has contributed to elevated gas prices and inflation in the U.S., impacting families as the midterm elections approach. The global oil benchmark, Brent crude, was trading at $87 per barrel on Friday, down from $70 last month when there were hopes for a peace deal. The national average gas price in the U.S. is currently over $4 per gallon.
