WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — President Donald Trump has nominated Mike Waltz to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, just hours after Waltz’s departure as national security adviser.
Vice President JD Vance described the move as a “promotion” during a Fox News interview, denying speculation that it was tied to the recent “Signalgate” controversy. Vance dismissed the incident as a “nothingburger of a story.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security adviser.
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Waltz caught using Signal app in Cabinet meeting
Waltz has faced scrutiny for weeks after a journalist was mistakenly included in a group chat with top Trump officials on the messaging app Signal. The chat, created by Waltz and led primarily by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, discussed plans for a strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Waltz was also spotted by reporters using the Signal app during Trump’s Cabinet meeting the day before his exit as national security adviser.
In a social media post, Waltz did not address his departure from the national security team, but said he is “deeply honored” to continue serving Trump and the country.
As with all ambassador appointments, Waltz must be confirmed by the Senate. Lawmakers are expected to grill Waltz on the security implications of the Signal chat and the use of an unapproved platform to discuss sensitive information.
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Trump is expected to unveil his federal budget proposal on Friday. According to Axios, the trillion-dollar plan includes increases in border and national security spending, along with deep cuts to foreign aid.
As Trump’s trade war with China continues to cause uncertainty, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is urging the administration to grant tariff exemptions for certain small businesses and products, such as those that cannot be produced in the United States or are not readily available.
China has said it is exploring different approaches in trade negotiations but views the current 145% tariffs as a major hurdle to any potential deal.
NewsNation’s Anna Kutz contributed to this report.
