US Senate confirms Mike Waltz as UN ambassador after months of delay
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Mr Mike Waltz speaking at his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington in July 2025.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
- Mike Waltz was confirmed as US ambassador to the UN by the Senate, 47-43, largely along party lines, filling a key position.
- Waltz's past includes being ousted as national security adviser after a messaging app incident, and he aims to reform the UN.
- Despite confirmation, his role at the upcoming UN General Assembly is unclear, awaiting credential confirmation from the UN.
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WASHINGTON - The US Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Mr Mike Waltz, as US ambassador to the UN on Sept 19, filling the last major position in the Republican’s administration.
The tally was 47 to 43 in the 100-member chamber, largely along party lines.
Democratic Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Mark Kelly of Arizona and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire voted with Republicans in favour of Mr Waltz, and one Republican, Senator Rand Paul, joined Democrats in voting no.
Ten senators did not vote.
Mr Trump ousted Mr Waltz - a retired Green Beret and former Republican lawmaker from Florida - as national security adviser on May 1 and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim replacement. Mr Rubio still holds the position.
Mr Waltz had been blamed, and criticised by Democrats, for accidentally adding the editor of The Atlantic magazine to a private discussion on the Signal messaging app
The Atlantic subsequently reported on the internal discussions about the strikes.
The US has not had an ambassador to the UN since Mr Trump began his second term on Jan 20. Mr Trump withdrew his first nominee, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik of New York, from consideration in March as Republicans sought to maintain their slim majority in the House of Representatives in order to advance the president’s “America First” agenda.
Mr Waltz was confirmed just in time for next week’s UN General Assembly gathering of world leaders in New York. However, it was not exactly sure what his official role there would be. The Senate vote was for his confirmation as ambassador to the world body and the US representative on the Security Council, but not its representative at UNGA.
“We are ready to receive his credentials as soon as the US side is ready,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
At his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr Waltz said that the UN needs reform and Washington must have a strong voice to counter China, adding that he was “confident we can make the UN great again,” echoing the slogan of Mr Trump’s political movement. REUTERS
