In a dramatic shake-up of his foreign policy team, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will nominate Mike Waltz to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The move comes amid a swirl of controversy and shifting power dynamics within the administration, just hours after reports surfaced of Waltz’s departure as national security adviser.
Trump made the announcement in a statement praising Waltz’s dedication to national interests:
“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.”
Waltz, a former Green Beret and congressman from Florida, has faced mounting pressure in recent weeks following a leaked Signal chat scandal that rattled the administration’s national security ranks. Rather than framing the transition as a demotion, the White House — including Vice President JD Vance — is characterizing the new UN role as a strategic promotion.
“He’s got the trust of both me and the president,” Vance said in an interview with Fox News.
“We also thought he’d make a better UN ambassador as we get beyond this stage of reforms to the National Security Council”
This nomination marks a key personnel shift as Trump moves toward solidifying his second-term Cabinet. Waltz is one of three House members Trump has tapped for top posts. Notably, former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from attorney general consideration amid concerns over his confirmation chances — though not before stepping down from his House seat.
Trump had previously nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) for the UN post, but withdrew her candidacy in March, citing the razor-thin GOP majority in the House. “I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” Trump said at the time.
A Historic Dual Role for Rubio
In the interim, Trump announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will also serve as national security adviser — making him the first to hold both roles simultaneously since Henry Kissinger. The decision signals growing confidence in Rubio, with Trump calling him “unbelievable” during a press appearance in the Rose Garden Thursday.
Rubio’s new responsibilities come at a pivotal moment in global affairs, with rising tensions abroad and ongoing debates about America’s role in multilateral institutions like the United Nations. As national security adviser, Rubio will have to balance diplomatic strategy with real-time crisis management, all while maintaining his duties as the nation’s top diplomat.
What’s Next?
Waltz’s nomination will head to the Senate, where confirmation hearings are expected to touch on both his military credentials and recent controversies. If confirmed, he will succeed Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who served during the Biden administration.
This reshuffle underscores Trump’s effort to streamline his team with loyalists and those he believes are best positioned for the next phase of his administration. With the 2025 global landscape rapidly shifting, the stakes for American diplomacy have never been higher.
