Senate Confirms Trump’s UN Ambassador After Delays

On Friday, the Senate confirmed Mike Waltz as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, following several months marked by delays from Senate Democrats.

The confirmation passed with a narrow bipartisan vote of 47-45, with Democratic senators John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire, and Mark Kelly from Arizona crossing party lines to support him. Notably, Senator Rand Paul was the only Republican to oppose him, having also voted against his advancement in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The appointment concludes nearly nine months during which the U.S. went without a UN representative, coinciding with the upcoming General Assembly in New York.

Waltz, who has a military background as a retired Army National Guard colonel and former Green Beret, previously served as a House Republican from Florida before becoming Trump’s national security adviser. However, his time in that role was cut short after a controversy referred to as “signal gate,” where he was let go from the National Security Council. In that context, he had engaged in discussions regarding sensitive operations.

Despite the setbacks, Trump nominated Waltz to the UN position in May, a decision that came after he opted out Rep. Elise Stefanik for the role, citing concerns over her potential political challenges.

Waltz faced scrutiny during his confirmation hearing in July as Senate Democrats accused him of handling conversations with journalists in a manner they deemed “amateur.” He defended himself, asserting that there were no classified details shared during those exchanges.

During the same hearing, he emphasized the need for reforms within the United Nations, advocating for it to serve as a platform for global dialogue among nations, including major powers like China and Russia, to collaboratively address conflicts. He noted that the UN has diverged from its foundational goals over the past 80 years.