The Senate confirmed Mike Waltz as United Nations ambassador Friday, just in time for President Donald Trump’s speech to the global body next week.
The former Republican congressman was confirmed in a 47-43 vote for the most prominent unfilled cabinet post in the Trump administration. His confirmation marks the end of a months-long holdup in the Trump administration campaign to secure a permanent UN ambassador.
“THANK YOU President Trump & the U.S. Senate your trust and confidence to Make the UN Great Again #MUNGA,” Waltz wrote on X Friday.
UN ambassador nominee Mike Waltz with President Donald Trump. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Democrats delayed the nomination and were successful in getting Waltz and others’ nominations returned to committee. Waltz’s nomination passed out of committee — for the second time — on Wednesday morning.
Despite receiving a “no” vote from Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Waltz’s nomination was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Paul maintained his position during Friday’s vote as the sole Republican to oppose Waltz’s confirmation, while Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire were the only members of their party to vote “yes.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump originally nominated Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik for the role before she quickly returned to her post in Congress to ensure the commander-in-chief maintained a solid Republican majority in the House.
In the interim, Dorothy Shea, who was nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed last summer, served as the acting ambassador.
Waltz was nominated in May after briefly serving as Trump’s national security advisor. Four months ago, Trump tapped him for the UN job.
The UN ambassador was previously the target of Democrats and critics in the media after The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he’d been included in a Signal chat group with top administration officials — and had been privy to conversations about imminent strikes on Houthi terrorists.
Waltz admitted that Goldberg had been inadvertently added to the chat from his phone, while a full investigation revealed that Goldberg’s number had likely been added as a result of the iPhone’s “automated suggestion” algorithm rather than any intentional move by Waltz or his staff. Administration officials who were in the group chat have maintained that they never discussed any classified information in their messages.
Trump’s speech at the UN General Assembly in New York next week comes amid peace deal negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, as well as efforts to end the Israel-Hamas war.
