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Nearly 150 days have passed since President Donald Trump began his term, and the U.S. still lacks an ambassador to the United Nations, even though geopolitics is a key aspect of his second-term agenda.
After Elise Stefanik withdrew her nomination in late March amid worries that Republicans could lose her New York seat if a special election occurred, Trump selected former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz for the prominent position on May 1.
However, his nomination process seems to be advancing only now. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which must approve his nomination before the full Senate can vote, confirmed on Thursday that they have received the nomination.
Michael Waltz (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“There are downsides diplomatically to not having senior leadership and supporting political staff in New York. It lessens U.S. influence and its ability to negotiate at the top level with other missions and the Secretariat,” Brett Schaefer, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and an expert on multilateral treaties and international organizations like the U.N., told Fox News Digital.
Schaefer explained that though the U.S. does not have a Senate-approved official in place at the U.N., it does not mean the administration does not have representatives at U.N. headquarters in New York working to push U.S. interests.
The U.S., as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, continues to hold its position and ability to use veto powers, should major geopolitical policy come into effect, like the use of snapback sanctions against Iran.
Though the U.S. has representation should an emergency meeting be called, as one was over the weekend by Iran following Israel’s Thursday night military strikes, the ambassador is seen as having the direct ear of the president and can therefore be more influential diplomatically when it tops to the top international body.
The U.N. Security Council meets in New York City on June 13, 2025. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“The United Nations is a serious playground whether you like it or not,” Jonathan Wachtel, who served as counsel to the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations during the previous Trump administration, told Fox News Digital, adding that there are arguments for reform and policy changes. “But at the end of the day it’s a flash point for every conflict in the world, and it’s important to have the representation of the United States at the world body.”
Wachtel also pointed out that with all the conflicts around the world, whether the U.S. is directly involved or not, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, Israel’s war against Iran and in Gaza, as well as broader crises like world hunger, Washington needs its voice heard, otherwise its adversaries will step in.
“[There’s] just too many things going on in the world and too much ground to cover,” Wachtel added. “And instead of the U.S. voice heard [at the U.N.], you’re going to have the press corps here and diplomats listening more to the arguments of our adversaries, frankly speaking.”
Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
