President Donald Trump on Thursday introduced he is nominating Michael Waltz to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, whereas Secretary of State Marco Rubio will function interim nationwide safety adviser whereas preserving his present function as properly.
“I’m happy to announce that I will likely be nominating Mike Waltz to be the subsequent United States Ambassador to the United Nations,” Trump wrote on his conservative social media platform. “From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my Nationwide Safety Advisor, Mike Waltz has labored laborious to place our Nation’s Pursuits first. I do know he’ll do the identical in his new function.”
“Within the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will function Nationwide Safety Advisor, whereas persevering with his sturdy management on the State Division,” Trump continued. “Collectively, we are going to proceed to struggle tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thanks to your consideration to this matter!”
Sources had advised ABC Information earlier Thursday that Waltz was anticipated to depart his put up as nationwide safety adviser.
The transfer got here as President Trump has been more and more annoyed by Waltz after he got here underneath intense scrutiny for inadvertently including a reporter to a Sign chat with high Trump officers discussing a U.S. navy strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Waltz responded to Trump’s announcement on X, writing: “I am deeply honored to proceed my service to President Trump and our nice nation.”
Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz speaks throughout a tv interview on the White Home, Might 1, 2025, in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos
Rubio was a Nationwide Prayer Occasion on the White Home earlier Thursday earlier than the information broke. He was seen standing within the colonnade on his cellphone, and at occasions talking with White Home deputy chief of workers Stephen Miller.
State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce discovered about Rubio changing Waltz in the course of Thursday’s press briefing. She was being requested by reporters on whether or not Rubio would take into account the place when Trump’s social media put up got here out.
“It’s clear that I simply heard this from you,” Bruce mentioned as she reacted to the information in actual time. She praised Rubio as “a person who, as I feel you all know, has worn a number of hats from day one” and is “somebody who’s well-known by the president.”
Bruce mentioned the transfer was not “not solely stunning,” however acknowledged “these final 100 days, it is like hanging onto a freaking bullet prepare.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks with White Home Deputy Chief of Workers Stephen Miller on the Nationwide Day of Prayer, close to the Rose Backyard on the White Home in Washington, Might 1, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Waltz was noticed doing a Fox Information interview on the White Home on Thursday morning, however was not current in a while on the prayer occasion.
He was in attendance at Trump’s Cupboard assembly on Wednesday, the place he provided reward for the president’s management and energy on the world stage throughout his first 100 days in workplace.
Trump publicly defended Waltz within the aftermath of the March Sign mishap, telling NBC Information the day after particulars got here to gentle in an article by The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg that Waltz “has discovered a lesson and is an effective man.”
Trump was requested additional about Waltz’s future by The Atlantic in an April 24 interview. He mentioned Waltz was “positive” regardless of being “beat up” after by chance including Goldberg to the group chat.
President Donald Trump, accompanied by U.S. Nationwide Safety Adviser Michael Waltz takes a query from a reporter throughout a gathering with NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte (L) within the Oval Workplace of the White Home, March 13, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos
Trump additionally mentioned in that interview that Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, who additionally got here underneath hearth for the Sign fiasco, was “protected.”
“I feel we discovered: Possibly do not use Sign, okay?” Trump mentioned in regards to the controversy. “If you wish to know the reality. I might frankly inform these folks to not use Sign, though it has been utilized by lots of people. However, no matter it’s, whoever has it, whoever owns it, I would not need to use it.”
