The Senate confirmed Mike Waltz as the United States ambassador to the United Nations on Friday afternoon, filling the final vacancy in President Donald Trump's cabinet.
According to The Daily Caller, the upper chamber approved Waltz's confirmation in a near party-line vote of 47 to 43, just in time for the UN General Assembly gathering in New York City scheduled to begin September 23. This confirmation comes almost eight months into Trump's second term, completing his cabinet lineup.
Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the only member of his party to vote against Waltz's confirmation. Three Democrats crossed party lines to support Waltz's nomination: John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Waltz's confirmation arrives at a crucial moment in international relations with several ongoing global conflicts demanding immediate attention. Russia continues to refuse to end the war in Ukraine, while tensions between China and Taiwan have been escalating in recent months.
Negotiations to end the war between Israel and Hamas also remain ongoing, presenting immediate challenges for the new ambassador. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee initially approved Waltz on July 24, but his nomination was among several sent back to the committee in early September due to Democratic complaints about the initial panel votes.
He passed the committee's evaluation again on Wednesday, with Shaheen, the panel's top Democrat, voting in favor while Senator Paul remained the sole Republican opposition. During his committee hearing, Waltz expressed his belief that the United Nations requires "major" reform while acknowledging there is "good and meaningful work to be done" at the international body.
Waltz previously served as Trump's national security advisor before his nomination to the UN position. His tenure in that role became controversial after he added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic and a longtime Trump critic, to an 18-person group chat on Signal in March 2025.
The messages, which were later published by The Atlantic, discussed pending strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Despite this controversy, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement affirming that President Trump "continues to have the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz."
Trump nominated Waltz for the UN ambassador position on May 1, the same day he departed his national security advisor post. Waltz told Senator Shaheen during his confirmation process that it was "absolutely critical" for the United States to play an active role in combating China's growing global influence.
Waltz represents Trump's second attempt to fill the UN ambassador position during his second term. The president initially nominated Republican New York Representative Elise Stefanik for the role, but her nomination was withdrawn by the White House in late March.
No official reason was provided for the withdrawal of Stefanik's nomination at that time. Waltz brings significant military experience to his new diplomatic role, having served as a U.S. Army Special Forces colonel, commonly known as a Green Beret.
He represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025 before joining the Trump administration. His confirmation ensures the United States will have representation at the upcoming UN General Assembly, an important gathering of world leaders beginning next week.
The new ambassador faces immediate diplomatic challenges as he steps into his role at the United Nations. His position on UN reform aligns with the Trump administration's broader approach to international organizations and institutional change.
Waltz's military background and congressional experience will inform his diplomatic approach at a time of increasing global instability. The upcoming UN General Assembly will provide Waltz with his first major opportunity to articulate the administration's positions on pressing international issues.
His confirmation fills the last remaining vacancy in Trump's cabinet, nearly eight months after the president began his second term. Waltz will now represent American interests at the UN during a period of significant global challenges and increasing competition between major powers.