Friday, December 13, 2024
Friday, December 13, 2024
President-elect Trump has selected Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) to be his national security adviser, tapping a second member of the House Armed Services Committee to join to his administration. Earlier this week, Trump picked Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to serve as ambassador to the United Nations.
Waltz currently serves as chairman of the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee.
“America will keep its allies close, we will not be afraid to confront our adversaries, and we will invest in the technologies that keep our country strong. America’s greatest strength is its booming economy and our energy dominance, and those tools will keep us out of wars and allow us to once again lead from a position of strength,” Waltz tweeted today. “I fully believe that America’s best days are still ahead, and that with President Trump’s America First Agenda, we will secure our freedoms and forge a future where our nation remains the land of the free, and the land looked to for leadership and courage by the world.”
Trump, in a statement announcing his selection of Waltz, noted the congressman's 27 years serving in the Army's special forces.
"Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda, and he will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!" Trump said.
Waltz is known on Capitol Hill as a China hawk but has voted against providing additional aid to Ukraine.
In September 2023, Waltz authored an op-ed criticizing what he viewed as the Biden administration’s “blank check” approach to Ukraine.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said today that he hopes Trump is done picking House lawmakers for his administration, as the potential incoming GOP majority will likely be razor thin.
“President Trump truly understands and appreciates the math here,” he said. “I don’t expect we will have more members leaving but I'll leave that up to him.”
Meanwhile, Trump is demanding that the incoming Republican Senate majority allow him to make recess appointments to bypass the confirmation process, allowing him to place nominees in his administration without congressional hearings.
As national security adviser, Waltz does not need to be confirmed by the Senate, though Stefanik does if she is to serve as ambassador to the U.N.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) issued a statement praising the choice of Waltz as national security adviser. Rogers’ office did not respond to a request for comment.
“There is no one more capable or qualified for this crucial role,” Rogers said. “As a Green Beret, Rep. Waltz bravely fought to defend our nation. As a leader on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Waltz has continued to work around the clock to bolster U.S. national security. Our national security is in good hands with Rep. Waltz at the helm.”