President Donald Trump added yet another twist to the monthslong saga to fill the role of
United Nations ambassador, forcing Republicans to relive the Signalgate controversy as they usher Mike Waltz’s nomination through the Senate.
Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee, the panel weighing Waltz’s nomination, are expected to heavily litigate his judgment after he mistakenly added the Atlantic‘s editor-in-chief to a Signal group chat detailing sensitive military plans.
Trump removed Waltz from his post as national security adviser on Thursday, which was viewed as a firing prompted by the controversy. However, the president simultaneously named Waltz ambassador to the U.N. Waltz’s deputy, Alexon Wong, is also reportedly being removed.
The move capped off weeks of uncertainty and drama surrounding the ambassadorship, the only unfilled position of Trump’s 22-member Cabinet. He previously nominated and then pulled Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) from consideration due to concerns over Republicans’ slim House majority.
Stefanik has since returned to a post in House leadership as she eyes a run for governor of New York.
Waltz, a former House member, has enjoyed support from within the party, and on Thursday, Republicans suggested he would have no trouble filling the vacancy.
“I think most Republicans in the Senate know Mike and like him and have confidence in him,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), an adviser to GOP leadership and Foreign Relations Committee member, told the Washington Examiner. “Obviously, the president still has confidence in him in order to put him in this key role.”
However, Waltz’s involvement in the Signal debacle, in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive information about impending strikes in Yemen, promises to bog the party down in negative confirmation hearing headlines.
News of Waltz’s nomination caught Republican senators off guard as they departed the Capitol following the final Senate vote of the week on Thursday.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who was informed by reporters of the nomination, quipped that perhaps Stefanik should switch with Waltz and become national security adviser. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is temporarily filling the role.
“Poor Elise Stefanik,” Hawley said.
Cornyn said it was important to “get to the bottom” of the Signal security lapse, but he added that he prefers the Department of Defense’s inspector general to continue handling the investigation.
Hawley also projected confidence in Waltz when asked about his prospects: “Unless there’s something I’m really missing here, I think [Waltz] would be perfectly fine.”
Lawmakers are increasingly anxious to fill the U.N. post, which has been vacant for three months in Trump’s second term. Senators on both sides of the aisle have, in recent days, felt a pressing need to confirm an ambassador as Trump clashes over trade and tries to broker an end to foreign conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war.
“Clearly, the sooner the better,” said Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), another Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee. “The U.N. has a lot of challenges in terms of terrible policies that we see coming out of the U.N., and the sooner we have a strong leader … the better off America is going to be. And the world, frankly.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top committee Democrat, described Trump’s withdrawal of Stefanik as “unfortunate” because it was based on “political considerations, not on qualifications.”
“We really need to be pushing back against China and the Russian Security Council,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), another panel Democrat. “It’s not good to have us not fully represented by a confirmed ambassador.”
Trump announced his intent to nominate Waltz for the U.N. post via his Truth Social platform. He praised Waltz’s former military experience, time serving in the House, and short stint as national security adviser.
TRUMP MOVES EMBATTLED MIKE WALTZ FROM NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER TO UN
“From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first,” Trump said. “I know he will do the same in his new role.”
Waltz responded on social media that he was “deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation.”
