President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has nominated his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. It reflects a significant shake-up in his national security team since the start of his second term. Trump also named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the interim national security adviser, a role he will fulfill in addition to his existing position.
A Rare Appointment: Secretary of State and National Security Adviser in One Role
It’s not typical for one individual to hold both positions. Waltz’s nomination to the UN position still requires Senate confirmation, where Republicans hold a low majority. However, there have been concerns in the Senate, particularly after Waltz inadvertently added a journalist to a private Signal chat discussing sensitive military plans regarding U.S. strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. The position of UN Ambassador has been vacant since Trump asked his initial nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to remain in Congress to support the Republicans’ narrow majority in the House.
“I’m deeply honored to continue my service to President Trump and our great nation,”
Waltz stated on social media, following the announcement of his new role.
Waltz’s Past Controversy and the Group Chat Incident
Trump defended him despite the controversy surrounding Waltz, and initially downplayed the incident as a “glitch.” The National Security Adviser took responsibility for the mishap, but Trump remained supportive, telling The Atlantic in an interview that “Waltz is fine.” In his remarks, Trump also pointed out the lessons learned from the situation and suggested that people might want to reconsider using Signal in the future.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the media’s portrayal of the situation and insisted that Waltz’s shift in roles was not connected to the group chat mishap.
“I know the president really likes Mike Waltz. He just thought that the UN ambassador position would be a better place for Mike Waltz to be,”
Vance explained.
Trump’s Broader Approach to National Security
President Trump relied on other senior aides for the course of his first 100 days in office, such as Middle East envoy Steve Wiesner, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to handle significant national security matters, including the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and ongoing negotiations with Iran. Waltz, known for his hardline stance on national security, previously served three terms in Congress, where he was the first Green Beret elected to the House of Representatives, representing east-central Florida.
Waltz has a rich national security background, and he was seen as a somewhat unconventional figure within Trump’s inner circle, especially regarding his outspoken support for sanctions against Russia, which did not always align with Trump’s approach.
No Signs of Division Within Trump’s Team, Says Vance
Vice President Vance denied claims that Waltz’s new role was the result of philosophical divides within Trump’s team.
“I’ve already seen some folks saying that this is a war between the hawks and the anti-hawks, new conservatives vs. MAGA or the realists — that’s not what this is about at all,”
Vance commented. Waltz’s earlier roles included serving as chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on readiness and as a member of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Historical Precedents and the Unusual Appointment of Rubio
It is not unique for one person to serve as both Secretary of State and national security adviser. Henry Kissinger held both positions for two years during the Nixon administration. However, many Americans at the time felt that the dual role granted Kissinger too much power, and President Ford later stripped him of his White House title in 1975. Trump indicated that Rubio’s appointment as interim national security adviser would be temporary until a permanent replacement is chosen.
Trump has a history of assigning multiple roles to trusted officials. In his first term, Mick Mulvaney, the budget director, also led the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, something Katie Dunn Tenpas, a presidential personnel expert at the Brookings Institution, noted as “unconventional but not unusual” for the Trump administration.
The Road Ahead for Waltz
The decision to nominate Waltz to the UN is seen by some as providing him a “soft landing” after the controversies that surrounded him, particularly the Signal incident. Critics have pointed to the growing political pressure on Waltz, especially from figures like Laura Loomer, who have called for greater loyalty to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Speculation on Future Appointments
The national security adviser position is temporarily vacant, Trump is considering several senior officials to fill the role, including special envoys like Steve Witkoff and Richard Grenell, National Security Council senior director for counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka, and senior State Department official Michael Anton. Witkoff, in particular, has played a key role in international negotiations, but there has been no indication that he is interested in taking the position permanently.
The coming weeks will reveal how his team adapts to these shifting responsibilities and the broader dynamics at play in his administration.
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