On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced his nomination of national security adviser Mike Waltz for the position of United Nations ambassador. This decision follows the news that Waltz and his deputy are departing the administration, which has been under scrutiny due to an incident reported by The Atlantic involving Waltz mistakenly adding the magazine's editor-in-chief to an encrypted chat discussing military plans.
In his social media announcement, Trump praised Waltz for his considerable background, stating, “From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first.” Trump also designated Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take over Waltz's national security duties on an interim basis. This dual role is not entirely unprecedented, as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger held both positions from 1973 to 1975.
The timeline for how long Rubio will fulfill both roles remains uncertain, especially amidst pressing foreign policy challenges such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Iran's advancing nuclear program, and the turbulence of an unsettled global economy amid the administration's tariff disputes.
Waltz faced intense criticism earlier in March after it was revealed that he had included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a private text chain on Signal, which was utilized for sensitive discussions regarding military operations against Houthi militants in Yemen. Despite admitting to "full responsibility" for the messaging error, Waltz insisted he did not know how Goldberg was added to the chat and maintained that no classified information was compromised.
Vice President JD Vance countered media narratives framing Waltz's nomination as a firing, asserting, “The media wants to frame this as a firing. Donald Trump has fired a lot of people; he doesn’t give them Senate-confirmed appointments afterwards.”
Previously, Trump had nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik from New York for the UN ambassador position but later withdrew her nomination due to concerns about Republicans' precarious voting margins in the House. Waltz expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue his service to the president and the country, although his move now requires Senate confirmation, where he is likely to face tough questioning regarding his handling of classified military information.
Several aides have been reported as contenders for Waltz's national security adviser role, including special envoys such as Steve Witkoff and Richard Grenell, along with Sebastian Gorka, senior director for counterterrorism, and Michael Anton, a senior State Department official. While Witkoff has been instrumental in negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, he reportedly prefers his current envoy role over taking on the national security adviser position.
Waltz's transfer to the position of UN ambassador nominee has been characterized as an effort by Trump to provide him with a "soft landing" after a challenging tenure as national security adviser, particularly given the difficulties stemming from the Signal messaging incident. Analysts believe that while Waltz attempted to adapt his traditional foreign policy views to align with Trump's more opportunistic approach, the president's unpredictable style presented challenges for his adjustment.
Questions also continue to arise regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's involvement in the Signal scandal. While Hegseth was not responsible for establishing the chat, he allegedly shared sensitive operational details within the same forum and is currently being scrutinized for bypassing security protocols. An investigation led by the Pentagon inspector general is ongoing, leading to ongoing political turbulence within the Defense Department, even as Trump continues to express confidence in Hegseth's leadership.
