Senate Confirms Mike Waltz as Trump’s UN Ambassador After Delays/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Senate confirmed Mike Waltz as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations after months of political wrangling. Waltz fills the last vacancy in Trump’s Cabinet, stepping in ahead of next week’s U.N. General Assembly. His tenure begins as Trump pushes for U.N. reforms and funding cuts.
Mike Waltz Confirmed as UN Ambassador – Quick Look
- Senate confirms Mike Waltz in bipartisan vote after delays.
- Waltz fills last open Cabinet role under Trump.
- White House says he’ll represent U.S. on the UN Security Council.
- Separate representative will cover General Assembly sessions.
- Waltz previously served briefly as Trump’s national security adviser.
- He supports major reforms to the UN and echoes Trump’s priorities.
- Waltz’s confirmation comes as U.S. aid cuts strain UN agencies.
Deep Look: Waltz Takes Helm as Trump’s Ambassador to the UN
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Friday confirmed Mike Waltz as the next ambassador to the United Nations, capping eight months of delays and filling the final Cabinet vacancy of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The bipartisan vote followed a procedural setback last week that forced Waltz’s nomination back to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which advanced him again Wednesday.
While the Senate did not separately approve him as the U.S. representative to the General Assembly — a move blocked by Democrats — Waltz will still represent Washington on the U.N. Security Council during next week’s high-profile meetings in New York. Another official, yet to be named, will handle duties in the General Assembly.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Waltz’s confirmation will bolster Trump’s presence at the U.N.:
“Mike Waltz will represent the United States as Ambassador as President Trump delivers a historic speech highlighting his unprecedented record in securing peace.”
A Contentious Path to Confirmation
Waltz’s confirmation ended weeks of speculation about whether the White House was prioritizing his nomination. A Democratic aide said administration officials showed “no urgency” despite the looming General Assembly.
The State Department countered, saying it worked closely with the White House to advance all nominees, including Waltz.
Trump nominated Waltz in May after Rep. Elise Stefanik withdrew over concerns about protecting the GOP’s slim House majority.
Waltz briefly served as Trump’s national security adviser before being removed in May after mistakenly including a journalist in a private Signal chat about sensitive military planning. Waltz disputes that he was fired, insisting the channel met cybersecurity standards. The Pentagon inspector general is still investigating.
Waltz’s UN Vision
During his Senate hearing, Waltz outlined his vision for the U.N.:
“We should have one place in the world where everyone can talk — where China, Russia, Europe and the developing world can come together and resolve conflicts. But after 80 years, it’s drifted from its core mission of peacemaking.”
His remarks aligned with the Trump administration’s push for reform and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s priorities, including reducing bureaucracy and curbing U.N. spending.
Challenges Ahead
Waltz takes his post as the U.N. faces financial strain from Trump’s decision earlier this year to slash U.S. foreign aid funding, a move that hit humanitarian agencies hard and signaled further reductions in America’s contribution to the U.N.’s annual budget.
Former U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood noted the difficulties Waltz faces:
“It’s critical for America to have a confirmed U.N. permanent representative. However, he’s got a tough job ahead in making the case for MAGA foreign policy positions that will encounter opposition at the U.N.”
Waltz’s arrival ensures Trump heads into the U.N.’s annual summit with his foreign policy team complete, though his ambassador’s mission will be to defend U.S. positions that many allies — and adversaries — find deeply divisive.
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