Senate Approves Mike Waltz as UN Ambassador

Senate Confirms Mike Waltz as U.N. Ambassador

The Senate has confirmed Mike Waltz, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump, as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Friday afternoon.

Waltz’s confirmation came with a close vote of 47-43, just in time for the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting starting on September 23. This confirmation also completes the final vacancies in Trump’s cabinet.

The lone Republican dissenting was Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky. On the Democratic side, three senators—John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Mark Kelly of Arizona—voted against him.

Waltz’s confirmation occurs during a time of heightened international tensions, including Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, escalating issues between China and Taiwan, and the situation between Israel and Hamas.

He had initially been approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 24, but faced procedural objections that sent his nomination back to the committee earlier this month. After a re-evaluation, he gained necessary support on Wednesday, including a key vote from Shaheen, the committee’s leading Democrat.

During his confirmation hearings, Waltz emphasized the need for “major” reforms at the U.N. and highlighted the importance of addressing China’s expanding influence.

Waltz stirred some controversy during his time as national security advisor, particularly when he added Jeffrey Goldberg, a noted critic of Trump, to a group chat on a messaging app back in March 2025.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the president has “the utmost confidence in his national security team, including Mike Waltz.” Waltz was nominated for this U.N. position on May 1, marking him as the second candidate after Elise Stefanik’s nomination was withdrawn.