Waltz only briefly served as Trump’s national security adviser, leaving in May after mistakenly adding a journalist to a private Signal chat.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — On Friday, the Senate confirmed Mike Waltz as the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. This fills the final vacancy in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet following eight months of delays and the withdrawal of a former nominee.
Waltz secured bipartisan approval after overcoming a recent procedural setback that sent his nomination back to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where it required another vote on Wednesday.
The Senate abstained from voting on another issue to officially designate Waltz as the U.S. representative at the General Assembly, facing objections from Democrats, according to someone familiar with the Senate discussions. Nonetheless, the White House confirmed Waltz’s participation in the upcoming annual U.N. gathering as the U.S. representative on the U.N. Security Council. Another individual, yet to be announced, will represent the U.S. during General Assembly sessions.
“As President Trump previewed today, he will deliver a historic speech to the United Nations General Assembly, discussing his unprecedented success in maintaining global peace,” stated White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. “Under this President’s leadership, our nation is robust again, contributing to global stability. Due to today’s confirmation vote, Mike Waltz will also be serving as the United States Ambassador.”
His confirmation quiets swirling questions about what kind of political capital the White House was asserting to get him seated as ambassador.
It remains unclear why Waltz’s advancement was stalled before Democrats utilized the procedural tactic last week, especially since his nomination exited the committee last month with bipartisan backing.
A State Department spokesperson said they had worked closely with the White House “to advance every one of our nominees as quickly as possible,” including Waltz.
But a Democratic congressional aide said this week that the administration officials had shown “no urgency” in getting Waltz confirmed before the U.N. General Assembly, which kicks off Tuesday with Trump as one of the first few speakers.
Waltz served for mere weeks as Trump’s national security adviser before he was ousted in May after mistakenly adding a journalist to a private Signal chat used to discuss sensitive military plans. He has denied being removed from the post and insisted the chat met the administration’s cybersecurity standards. The Pentagon inspector general is investigating.
Trump tapped Waltz in May to represent the U.S. at the United Nations after the withdrawal of the previous nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, over concerns about the Republicans’ House majority. During his Senate confirmation hearing months later, Waltz echoed the priorities of his bosses — Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — of pursuing major reforms to the 80-year-old international organization.
“We should have one place in the world where everyone can talk — where China, Russia, Europe and the developing world can come together and resolve conflicts,” Waltz told senators. “But after 80 years, it’s drifted from its core mission of peacemaking.”
Waltz’s arrival will coincide with a time of great change for the U.N., as it is still reeling from Trump’s decision this year to slash foreign assistance funding, which has hugely affected its humanitarian aid agencies and foreshadowed additional U.S. funding cuts to the U.N. annual budget.
“It’s critical for America to have a confirmed U.N. permanent representative,” Robert Wood, former deputy U.S. ambassador, said. “However, he’s got a tough job ahead in trying to make the case for a number of MAGA foreign policy positions that will certainly encounter much opposition at the U.N.”
Amiri reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
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