President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will nominate Mike Waltz to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, confirming earlier reports that Waltz was being ousted as national security advisor.
Trump said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would serve as interim national security advisor until that post is filled.
The announcement came hours after multiple news reports that Walz would leave that role amid continued controversy over his creation of a Signal messaging app chat thread that was used by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reveal U.S. military plans.
The president had previously nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for the U.N. ambassador slot.
But Trump withdrew Stefanik’s nomination in late March, citing the very slim majority that Republicans hold in the House of Representatives.
“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 in a Truth Social post on Thursday.
“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,” Trump wrote.
“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!”
Waltz leaving his post at the National Security Council and moving to the ambassador role, which will require Senate confirmation, marks the first major shifting of positions in Trump’s second administration.
Waltz, 51, previously served in the House, representing a Florida district. Earlier, he served in the U.S. Army as a Special Forces officer.
By CNBC
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