The nomination of US ambassador Mike Waltz has successfully navigated important steps, bringing him closer to Senate confirmation.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led by Republicans, voted 12-10 in favor of advancing his nomination, with support from Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who crossed party lines.
Meanwhile, Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) agreed to push the nomination forward but refrained from endorsing it, calling on Republicans to consider Shaheen’s position.
Shaheen ultimately supported Waltz after the State Department committed to releasing around $75 million in aid for both Nigeria and Haiti.
She characterized him as a “moderate force” and expressed her intention to ensure accountability.
I think Waltz’s nomination really hinged on that support from Shaheen. Without it, he likely would have faced a tough battle in the committee.
Paul has been vocal about his concerns, perceiving Waltz as too aggressive regarding foreign policy based on his past statements and actions.
During the confirmation hearing, Paul pressed Waltz on his history related to maintaining military presence in Afghanistan during the Trump administration.
Interestingly, the situation became more complicated due to a past incident known as Signalgate, where Waltz mistakenly included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg in a sensitive chat meant for military planning.
This error surfaced later when Goldberg revealed information from a chat detailing Defense Secretary Pete Hegses’ plans for a military strike.
President Trump then shifted gears, appointing Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and nominating Waltz for the UN ambassador role instead.
Initially, Trump had suggested Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) for the position, but ultimately withdrew that nomination amid concerns over potential political repercussions.
Currently, Dorothy Shea is serving as the temporary US ambassador to the United Nations.
Waltz faced scrutiny during the confirmation hearing, particularly from Democrats, regarding how he handled the aftermath of the Signalgate incident.
Throughout this process, even after his resignation as national security adviser, Waltz has continued to advise while still receiving his salary from the White House.
