The Senate on Friday confirmed former White House national security adviser Mike Waltz as the new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, ending a nine-month period without a permanent American representative at the international body.
The 47-43 vote ensures Waltz will be in place for next week’s U.N. General Assembly in New York, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks on Tuesday. Three Democrats—Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Mark Kelly of Arizona, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire—joined most Republicans in voting for his confirmation. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole Republican to vote against the nominee.
President Trump nominated Waltz in May. The move came two months after Waltz, then serving as national security adviser, admitted to accidentally including a journalist in a private chat on the Signal messaging app where officials were discussing military strikes in Yemen. Before his White House role, Waltz, 51, represented Florida in the House from 2019 to 2025.
During his confirmation hearing, Waltz advocated for significant reform at the U.N., calling for a review of U.S. funding and a commitment to combating antisemitism within the institution.
The ambassadorial post has been vacant since March, when Trump withdrew his initial nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. The president expressed concern that her departure from Congress would further complicate passing his agenda with the GOP’s narrow House majority.
Waltz will take over from career Ambassador Dorothy Shea, who has served in an acting capacity since the beginning of the second Trump administration. He assumes the post at a critical time in global affairs, with ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas preceded an Israeli ground offensive into Gaza City this week, while European allies continue to press the U.S. to increase pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
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