Delays Sideline Mike Waltz from Key UN Role During Summit

Mike Waltz will likely miss the opportunity to serve as President Donald Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations during a significant gathering of world leaders next week. His confirmation has been delayed due to procedural challenges, making it improbable that he will be in place before the General Assembly meeting starts on July 3, 2023.

Waltz’s nomination was returned to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after Senate Democrats blocked over two dozen nominees from Trump’s administration. A committee vote is scheduled for Wednesday, but the timeline suggests that full Senate confirmation will not occur before the meeting. Senator Jim Risch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, criticized the Democrats’ actions, stating, “Senate Democrats’ extension of their blockade on President Trump’s nominations is a deterrent to bipartisan committee work and has hurt America’s standing on the world stage.”

Waltz, who previously served briefly as Trump’s national security adviser, was removed from that position after an incident involving a journalist added to a private communication channel. He has denied being ousted, asserting instead that he was chosen for the U.N. role and that the communication met cybersecurity standards. An investigation by the Pentagon inspector general is currently underway.

The nomination process for the U.N. position has been protracted, with Waltz’s paperwork reaching the Senate only after nearly six months of vacancy. This delay follows the withdrawal of the previous nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, due to concerns regarding the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. It remains unclear why Waltz’s nomination did not advance sooner, especially since it had initially received bipartisan support in committee.

A Democratic congressional aide remarked that the White House displayed “no urgency” in confirming Waltz before next week’s U.N. gathering. He would have represented the United States alongside Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser.

A White House official indicated that Trump “has been clear” about wanting his nominees confirmed promptly. The official, who requested anonymity, did not specifically address Waltz’s nomination. On Wednesday, Senate Republicans are expected to vote en bloc on Waltz’s confirmation along with over 25 other Trump nominees, employing a strategy aimed at streamlining the confirmation process after negotiations with Democrats failed.

The procedural maneuvering by Senate Majority Leader John Thune represents a continued effort to shift the nomination process, which has become increasingly partisan over the years.

Once confirmed, Waltz will step into his role at a pivotal moment for the United Nations, which recently marked its 80th anniversary. The organization faces significant challenges, particularly following Trump’s decision to cut foreign assistance funding, which has severely impacted its humanitarian agencies. At his confirmation hearing in July, Waltz noted that U.N. revenue “has quadrupled in the last 20 years,” but this growth has not correlated with improved global peace.

Waltz emphasized the need for U.S. contributions to international organizations to align with national interests, stating, “The U.S. must ensure that every foreign aid dollar and every contribution to an international organization, particularly the U.N., draws a straight and direct line to a compelling U.S. national interest.”

As the situation unfolds, Waltz’s potential confirmation will be closely watched, given the implications for U.S. foreign policy and its role in global governance.