Mike Waltz, former national security adviser and President Donald Trump’s latest nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is set to face a high-stakes Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, amid ongoing controversy over his handling of sensitive military discussions on an unsecured messaging app.
Waltz, a former Republican congressman and decorated Army Green Beret, will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — his first public testimony since being dismissed from his previous White House role in May. His removal came shortly after reports emerged that he had inadvertently added The Atlantic‘s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a private Signal chat where senior officials were discussing military planning, including strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen.
The misstep, dubbed “Signalgate” by some lawmakers, has raised fresh concerns about operational security and judgment at the highest levels of national defense. While Waltz took responsibility, the breach also drew criticism toward Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reportedly shared the sensitive information across multiple unsecured chats. Despite this, Trump continues to stand by Hegseth.
Waltz’s nomination follows months of delay and the withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick, Rep. Elise Stefanik, whose departure was prompted by concerns over maintaining the Republican House majority. Waltz has remained on the White House payroll in the interim, listed with a $195,200 annual salary as of July 1.
If confirmed, Waltz would take the helm at the United Nations at a pivotal moment. The organization is grappling with the repercussions of sweeping U.S. funding cuts and broader reforms tied to Trump’s “America First” foreign policy. The White House has accused some UN agencies of straying from their founding mission, targeting American allies, and tolerating antisemitism — charges that could shape Waltz’s diplomatic agenda.
The UN, already under financial pressure, has been forced to lay off staff and consolidate programs as it attempts long-overdue reforms. Critics, including former UN ambassador and national security adviser John Bolton, have voiced concern over the UN’s growing dysfunction. “It’s probably in the worst shape it’s been since it was founded,” Bolton recently said.
Waltz has spent recent weeks in behind-the-scenes meetings with both Republican and Democratic senators. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) confirmed Monday that she pressed him on both the Signal incident and U.S. strategy to counter growing Chinese influence at the UN.
“I asked about ‘Signalgate,’ but also about how we plan to bring nations to our side given the PRC’s increasing global sway,” she said.
Despite expected Democratic resistance, Waltz is widely expected to be confirmed in the Republican-controlled Senate. “He’ll be fine,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). “Mike’s used to taking incoming fire.”
Waltz has not publicly detailed how he would approach the UN role, but Trump has praised him as a tireless advocate for U.S. interests. “From his time in uniform, to Congress, to the White House, Mike Waltz puts America first,” the president said when announcing the nomination.
His confirmation could mark the final piece in Trump’s Cabinet, completing the administration’s top leadership team heading into the second half of the term.