Trump announces the appointment of Mike Waltz, current National Security Adviser, as his nominee for the position of U.N. Ambassador.
President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Thursday that he would be nominating Mike Waltz, his outgoing national security adviser, for the position of U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Trump praised Waltz, saying, "From his time in uniform, Congress, and as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has always put our Nation's interests first." Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to serve as interim National Security Advisor.
Waltz, a former Florida congressman, found himself in hot water in March following an incident involving the messaging app Signal. He inadvertently added a journalist to a private chat with top national security officials, discussing military strikes in Yemen. This mishap put Waltz on shaky ground with Trump, and sources had indicated earlier in the day that he was expected to leave the administration.
However, Trump expressed support for Waltz in the days following the incident, stating, "Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he's a good man." Despite this public backing, internal frustration over the incident was evident. Trump privately vented about his disappointment with Waltz in the days following the incident becoming public.
The Signal chat incident played a significant role in Waltz's transition from national security adviser to ambassadorial nominee. The chat, which included Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, led to intense scrutiny of Waltz's judgment and competence.
Critics argue that the nomination reflects Trump's pattern of repositioning controversial figures rather than fully removing them from influence. However, supporters like Vance consider this move a promotion for Waltz, a "great guy" with the trust of both the president and the vice president.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the dismissal of both Waltz and Hegseth, stating, "They should fire him, but they're firing the wrong guy. They should be firing Hegseth." The confirmation process for Waltz's role as ambassador is likely to be contentious due to his involvement in the Signal incident.
Before joining the Trump administration, Waltz aligned himself with traditional conservative foreign policy views. However, his stance on Ukraine moved closer to Trump's after the November election, leading some to view him as a counterweight to more skeptical figures in the administration. Waltz's efforts to shape a coherent approach to international challenges were often undermined by Trump's unpredictable leadership style.
Rubio's appointment as interim National Security Advisor is his third time acting as head of an agency, in addition to his duties as the country's top diplomat. Trump has entrusted Rubio with key roles, also naming him acting head of the U.S. Agency for International Development and acting head of the National Archives and Records Administration in February.
Trump heaped praise on Rubio during the Rose Garden event, stating, "Marco, when I have a problem, I call up Marco. He gets it solved."
Mike Waltz's nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is a controversial move due to his past mistakes in handling sensitive information.
In March 2021, Waltz inadvertently added a journalist to a private Signal chat discussing a military operation in Yemen, which included top national security officials like Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
This mishap led to intense scrutiny of Waltz's judgment and competence, and internal frustration over the incident was evident within the Trump administration.
Critics argue that the nomination reflects Trump's pattern of repositioning controversial figures rather than fully removing them from influence. However, supporters argue this move represents a promotion for a 'great guy' who is trusted by both the president and the vice president.
The confirmation process for Waltz's role as ambassador is likely to be contentious due to his involvement in the Signal incident, and Schumer has called for the dismissal of both Waltz and Hegseth.
- The nomination of Mike Waltz as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations is a contentious move due to his past mistake of inadvertently adding a journalist to a sensitive Signal chat about a military operation.
- In the Signal chat incident in March 2021, Waltz included top national security officials like Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, leading to intense scrutiny of his judgment and competence.
- Trump's decision to nominate Waltz for the ambassadorial position, despite the controversy surrounding his handling of sensitive information, is seen by critics as a pattern of repositioning controversial figures rather than removing them entirely from influence.
- On the contrary, supporters view Waltz's promotion as a testament to his trustworthiness, as he is valued by both the president and the vice president. The confirmation process for Waltz's role as ambassador is expected to be contenderous due to the public outcry over the Signal incident.
