Senate confirms former national security adviser Mike Waltz as Trump's UN ambassador

Source: PBS News/AP

Sep 19, 2025 2:45 PM EDT


WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Friday confirmed Mike Waltz to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, filling the last vacancy in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet after eight months of delays and the withdrawal of a previous nominee.

The bipartisan vote for Waltz came after a recent procedural hurdle sent his nomination back to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where it had to be voted on again on Wednesday.

The Senate did not vote on a separate matter that would formally designate Waltz as a representative at the General Assembly, due to objections from Democrats, according to a person familiar with the Senate deliberations. It is unclear how or whether Waltz would be able to participate in the annual U.N. gathering in New York next week. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for clarification.

His confirmation quiets swirling questions about what kind of political capital the White House was asserting to get him seated as ambassador. It is unclear why Waltz wasn’t advanced before Democrats employed the procedural move last week, given that his nomination moved out of committee last month with bipartisan support.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/senate-confirms-former-national-security-adviser-mike-waltz-as-trumps-un-ambassador