Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) anticipates a “brutal” confirmation hearing for former national security adviser Mike Waltz, who has been reassigned as Trump’s ambassador to the UN.
During an appearance on CNN’s “Confederation Status” on Sunday, Warner discussed the recent reshuffling in the administration when host Jake Tupper inquired about Waltz’s potential confirmation.
“Do you think he’ll get confirmed as UN ambassador?” Tupper asked.
“I think it’s going to be a brutal confirmation hearing,” Warner remarked.
Warner’s views align with those of other Democrats, and Waltz himself acknowledges the difficult path ahead as he tries to justify his new role, especially after reports emerged regarding his use of signals in discussing management matters.
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) echoed Warner’s sentiments on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” stating, “It’s going to be a brutal hearing. He’s essentially unqualified because he was part of the signal chain. He thinks everyone involved should be let go.”
Duckworth characterized Waltz’s situation as a “failure,” expressing she would oppose his nomination due to concerns about his competence with classified information.
Warner mentioned that Waltz had been misleading about using signal group chats for discussions related to plans against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The scandal came to light when Waltz mistakenly included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg in one of these group chats.
While the focus has chiefly been on Waltz’s messaging habits, scrutiny has also fallen on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who is expected to provide details about the attack discussions.
Warner called for Hegseth’s removal, urging him to clarify how he got involved in sharing sensitive information with service members and their acquaintances.
It was recently disclosed that Hegseth had also shared attack plans in another group chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer, drawing significant criticism over his misuse of the platform.
“It feels like there’s never a day when we don’t hear about morale sinking due to a lack of trust in these leaders,” Warner stated.
