U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz stated that President Donald Trump’s new Gaza peace plan might be a “once-in-a-generation opportunity for Middle East peace.”
Trump unveiled his Gaza peace plan on Monday, receiving approval from Israel. Despite U.S. critiques of the U.N.’s actions in Gaza, the plan counts on the international body’s assistance. When questioned about its implementation, Waltz indicated the U.S. will “continue to call it out” and “demand reforms” while collaborating with the U.N. in Gaza.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Waltz pointed out a significant issue with the U.N.: aid delivery in Gaza. Between May 19 and Aug. 5, U.N. data revealed nearly 90% of its aid trucks were intercepted by armed groups or hungry crowds. The U.S. attributes this mainly to Hamas, accusing them of seizing the aid to sell for profit.
“We can’t have a situation where U.N. agencies — the U.S. funds about a quarter of their expenses — are actually delivering aid that Hamas commandeers. Hamas profits by reselling it on the black market,” Waltz remarked to Fox News Digital.
The U.S. and Israel-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has faced substantial criticism from the U.N., announced on Friday that it had provided over 178 million meals since its operations began in May.
Waltz expressed his intention to align with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s aim to implement America First policies and “make the U.N. great again.” He suggested the institution had deviated from its foundational purpose as a place for global problem-solving, and the U.S. aims to restore that focus.
The other major priority for the U.S. at the U.N., according to Waltz, is to get rid of “the bloat.”
“Like any bureaucracy over 80 years, it has gotten too big, too bureaucratic, and therefore less effective. So I’m not going to say that we’re going to pull the DOGE up here, but we definitely need to make some cuts,” he told Fox News Digital.
Waltz pointed to a recent vote on Haiti as an example of the U.S. working to achieve results at the U.N. As a former congressman from Florida, he noted that the lawlessness in Haiti has spilled onto U.S. shores. However, Waltz believes the U.N.-backed gang-suppression force will restore law and order, without making the U.S. foot the bill.
“In line with what the president has demanded, we’re going to share the burden,” Waltz said. “Other countries are involved. Kenya has taken the lead, El Salvador is taking a key role. Other countries are paying for it. It’s not just all on the United States’ shoulders.”
The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, speaks at a Security Council emergency meeting to discuss Russian fighter jet incursions into NATO member Estonia’s airspace at the 80th session of the U.N.’s General Assembly (UNGA) on Sept. 22, 2025, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Waltz acknowledged Americans’ skepticism about the U.N., but he argued that it’s essential for the world’s leaders to meet on U.S. soil, and for Washington to remain at the table. He also pointed to the growing influence of international bodies on the American economy through regulation.
“There’s all these international bodies that can directly affect our economy and our way of life that touch aviation and how we fly around the world, space, telecommunications, radio, data,” he said. “And just as we fight for deregulation in our own federal government, we certainly don’t want global overregulation on many of our industries.”
Waltz stressed that staying engaged globally is critical to protecting U.S. interests and preventing bad actors from filling the void.
“We have to say engaged, I think, to fight for the values that we hold dear. And if anything, this president is a fighter. We’re going to keep fighting for our way of life,” Waltz said.
