In a whirlwind series of developments that caught Washington watchers off guard, former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has been tapped by former President Donald Trump to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations — just hours after reports emerged that Waltz was preparing to exit the administration altogether.
Trump’s surprise announcement, made Thursday via his Truth Social platform, immediately shifted the narrative. “I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations,” Trump wrote. “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.”
Waltz is out.
Hegseth, you’re next.
— Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) May 1, 2025
The move not only secures Waltz’s continued presence on Trump’s foreign policy team, but also elevates his portfolio to the global stage. A former Florida Congressman and decorated Green Beret, Waltz has cultivated a hawkish, America-first stance on international affairs — one that aligns tightly with Trump’s renewed focus on aggressive diplomacy and military strength heading into a likely second term.
In a strategic reshuffle, Trump named Secretary of State Marco Rubio to serve concurrently as acting National Security Adviser, signaling confidence in Rubio’s dual capacity to manage both diplomatic and security challenges. The pairing of Waltz at the U.N. and Rubio overseeing national security gives Trump a front-line team steeped in conservative credentials and ideological loyalty, two critical traits for what promises to be a combative term if Trump returns to the Oval Office.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 1, 2025
Meanwhile, Democrats — prematurely celebrating what they thought was Waltz’s dismissal — found themselves scrambling to respond. Their calls for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to be “next” may have been part of a broader attempt to fracture Trump’s inner circle, but the pivot to promote Waltz undermines that narrative, showing instead a repositioning, not a purge.
It’s worth noting that Waltz wasn’t Trump’s first pick for the ambassadorship. That honor initially went to Rep. Elise Stefanik, a rising GOP star from New York. Though she reportedly had enough bipartisan support to sail through confirmation, her nomination was pulled to preserve the Republicans’ narrow majority in the House — a move that demonstrates Trump’s political calculus remains finely tuned. Stefanik, for her part, hasn’t retreated from the spotlight and is now reportedly eyeing a gubernatorial bid in New York.
I’m deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation. pic.twitter.com/FFTPjnIYkI
— Mike Waltz (@MikeWaltz47) May 1, 2025