The Mike Waltz confirmation officially closed the final gap in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet on Friday afternoon. After months of gridlock, the Senate confirmed Waltz as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Lawmakers approved the nomination by a narrow 47-45 bipartisan vote.
Democrats John Fetterman, Jeanne Shaheen, and Mark Kelly joined Republicans to confirm Waltz. Notably, Sen. Rand Paul opposed the move, remaining the only Republican to vote no.
Previously, Waltz served as a House Republican representing Florida. He also held a role as Trump’s national security advisor. Waltz’s background includes service as a Green Beret and colonel in the Army National Guard. His confirmation comes just days before the U.N. General Assembly opens in New York City. For nearly nine months, the U.S. lacked a representative at the U.N.
Initially, Trump had considered Rep. Elise Stefanik for the role. However, he changed course in May, citing concerns about losing her vote in the House. With Republicans holding a slim majority, every seat remains vital.
At his confirmation hearing in July, Democrats grilled Waltz over a recent controversy. In what became known as “Signalgate,” Waltz added a journalist to a group chat involving top officials. That chat included discussions about military strikes in Yemen.
The group included CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance. Critics called the action careless. Nonetheless, Waltz took responsibility and publicly apologized. “It’s embarrassing,” he told Fox News. “We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
During the hearing, Waltz defended himself. He stressed that no classified material was shared in the conversation. Still, some senators labeled the move “amateurish.” Despite the controversy, the Mike Waltz confirmation advanced after weeks of tense debate. Waltz used his hearing to outline reforms he hopes to lead at the U.N. He emphasized the need to return to the organization’s original mission.
“We should have one place in the world where everyone can talk,” Waltz said. “That includes rivals like China and Russia.” He also argued that after 80 years, the U.N. has drifted from its founding purpose. He vowed to help bring it back. Lastly, with the Mike Waltz confirmation complete, the Trump administration turns its full attention to global diplomacy at the upcoming General Assembly.
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