Slip-up in Signal Chat, Fired Waltz Gets a Waltz at the UN
United Nations to Appoint Walter Waltz as Ambassador
Here's the buzz. A few weeks back, it was rumored that Mike Waltz would be booted off as the U.S. President's national security advisor. But Trump himself confirmed it. However, he wants to give Waltz a second shot, this time as the new American ambassador to the United Nations in New York. According to Trump's post on Truth Social, Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take over the position temporarily and manage it along with his State Department role, reminiscent of Henry Kissinger’s 1973 appointments under Nixon.
Waltz's initial dismissal stemmed from a group chat on the commercial app Signal about impending attacks on the Houthi militia in Yemen. In March, he accidentally added the editor-in-chief of the U.S. magazine "The Atlantic", Jeffrey Goldberg, to the chat. The unintended sharing of the conversation, which also involved U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other high-ranking government representatives, revealed sensitive operational details that caused quite a stir.
Trump still stands behind Waltz, saying, "From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress, and as my national security advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put the interests of our nation first." The appointment of the UN ambassador must still be approved by the U.S. Senate. Previously, Representative Elise Stefanik was intended for this position. However, her nomination was withdrawn due to narrow majority ratios in the U.S. House of Representatives a few weeks ago. Currently, Dorothy Shea is acting in the role.
Waltz's Mix-up with the Journalist
Waltz created the Signal group to discuss a planned military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen. Perhaps a contact in his phone's address book was saved with a different number, which led to Goldberg's number mistakenly ending up in the group[5]. Waltz had never met "Atlantic" editor Goldberg, whom he called a "Trump-hater" and a "loser" during a Fox News interview[3].
The chat published by Goldberg also shed light on the government's attitude. For instance, Vice President J.D. Vance was quoted saying, "I just hate having to help Europe out of a jam." Hegseth responded, "I share your disgust with the European freeloaders. It's pathetic."
During Trump's first term, his then-national security advisor Michael Flynn resigned after just over three weeks in office due to a conversation he had about U.S. sanctions with the Russian ambassador in Washington[4]. This conversation — which he had lied to Vice President Mike Pence about — overshadowed Flynn's tenure.
Now, it remains to be seen how the Signal incident will impact Waltz's confirmation hearings. Lawmakers are expected to question his judgment in handling sensitive operations. With the White House yet to submit the official paperwork, the Senate's schedule for hearings remains uncertain.
Sources:
- ntv.de, as/dpa
- The Atlantic
- Truth Social
Enrichment Data: Mike Waltz's journey to becoming the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations follows a tumultuous period as national security advisor marked by a significant security lapse. Here's a breakdown of key developments:
Background and Signal Chat Affair
Military and Political Career: Waltz, a former Green Beret and three-term Florida congressman[5], became Trump’s national security advisor at the start of his second term. His tenure was abruptly overshadowed in March 2025 when he created an encrypted Signal chat to coordinate a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen but mistakenly included The Atlantic journalist Jeffrey Goldberg[2][3]. The chat revealed operational details such as strike timing and weaponry, prompting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and intelligence officials to downplay the sensitivity of the leaked information publicly[3][5].
Fallout and Retention: While Waltz admitted responsibility for the error, calling it "embarrassing" during a Fox News interview[3], Trump publicly defended him as "a good man" who "learned a lesson"[2][3]. White House officials debated whether he should resign, but Waltz remained in his role until May 1, 2025, when Trump announced his departure[2][3].
Nomination and Transition
UN Ambassador Nomination: On May 1, 2025, Trump nominated Waltz to replace the previously floated candidate Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), whose March 2025 nomination was withdrawn[1][4]. The move was framed as a continuation of Waltz’s service, with Trump praising his commitment to "put our Nation’s Interests first"[4].
Interim Replacement: Secretary of State Marco Rubio will temporarily serve as acting national security advisor while retaining his State Department role—a dual-hat arrangement likened to Henry Kissinger’s 1973 appointments under Nixon[4][5].
Confirmation Process
Senate Scrutiny: Waltz’s nomination will require Senate confirmation, where Democrats like Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) have already signaled scrutiny over the Signal incident[1][2]. The episode is expected to dominate confirmation hearings, with lawmakers likely questioning his judgment in handling sensitive operations. Timeline: As of May 1, 2025, the White House has not yet formalized the nomination paperwork, leaving the Senate’s schedule for hearings unclear[1][4]. Historical precedent suggests the process could take weeks to months, depending on political dynamics.
The European Union and the United States appear concerned about the implications of Mike Waltz's unintentional disclosure of sensitive operational details. The Pentagon has reportedly confirmed that this incident took place during a group chat on Signal that involved Waltz, who was then the U.S. President's national security advisor. This conversation, which also included U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and other high-ranking government representatives, apparently revealed details about an impending attack on the Houthi militia in Yemen. Politics and general news outlets have been discussing the possible impact of this mix-up on Waltz's nomination for the position of the American ambassador to the United Nations, a role he was recently proposed for by Trump.
