President Trump announced a major shakeup in his national security team on Thursday, tapping Mike Waltz to be his United Nations ambassador while Secretary of State Marco Rubio will fill the national security adviser post on an acting basis.
“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 on Truth Social. “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. I know he will do the same in his new role.
“In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Reports circulated Thursday morning indicating Waltz would be out of a job following last month’s debacle in which he accidentally added Atlantic magazine editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg to a group chat about airstrikes in Yemen.
Trump had backed Waltz at the time, saying he had learned his “lesson” and that he was a “good man” — refusing to give any indication he would soon be out of the West Wing.
Although putting people in Trump world on high alert at the time, the Waltz news shocked many close to the White House, who had not heard he would be out at NSC until seeing the reports.
The UN spot was previously given to Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who had prepared for months to move to New York City and get cracking at upending the international organization with Trump’s policies.
But the president ultimately pulled her nomination to keep the GOP majority stronger in the House, which has razor-thin margins.
Waltz’s possible dual posts as national security adviser and UN ambassador would be a historic feat.
Trump’s first-term secretary of state Mike Pompeo made no secret of his desire for a similar dual role in 2019 — in emulation of Henry Kissinger, who held both titles from 1973 to 1975 — only for the president to dash Pompeo’s yearning by saying he preferred two top advisers rather than one.
Two sources close to the president told The Post that they expect Waltz to be confirmed — despite fallout from the Signal controversy.
“It’s UN ambassador — no one gives a shit,” one said of a potential GOP rebellion in the Senate.
