Latest news with #confirmationhearing
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Mike Waltz grilled over Signal chat during confirmation hearing for UN role
Just over two months after being ousted as national security adviser, Mike Waltz faced lawmakers on Tuesday during a confirmation hearing to be US ambassador to the UN, telling them that he planned to make the world body 'great again'. 'We should have one place in the world where everyone can talk – where China, Russia, Europe and the developing world can come together and resolve conflicts,' Waltz told the Senate foreign relations committee about the UN. 'But after 80 years, it's drifted from its core mission of peacemaking.' On 1 May, Waltz was pushed out as national security adviser and replaced by Marco Rubio after it was revealed that Waltz mistakenly adding a journalist to a private Signal chat used to discuss planning for strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen. On Monday, the Associated press reported that he had spent the last few months on the White House payroll, earning an annual salary of $195,200. During Tuesday's hearing, it took more than one hour for a lawmaker to bring up the Signal chat controversy. 'I was hoping to hear from you that you had some sense of regret over sharing what was very sensitive, timely information about a military strike on a commercially available app,' said the Democratic senator Chris Coons of Delaware. 'We both know Signal is not an appropriate and secure means of communicating highly sensitive information,' he added. Waltz responded that the chat met the administration's cybersecurity standards, that 'no classified information was shared', and that the military was still conducting an ongoing investigation. He added that he and Coons 'have a fundamental disagreement' about concerns over the situation. The New Jersey senator Cory Booker accused Waltz of lying about how a journalist was added to the chat. At the time, Waltz took responsibility even as criticism mounted against the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, who shared the sensitive plans in the chat that included several other high-level national security officials. Hegseth shared the same information in another Signal chat that included family, but Trump has made clear Hegseth has his support. The UN post is the last one to be filled in Trump's cabinet following months of delay, including the withdrawal of the previous nominee. Waltz, a former Florida congressman, was introduced by Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Rick Scott of Florida as 'a seasoned policy mind and skilled negotiator'. 'With Waltz at the helm, the UN will have what I regard as what should be its last chance to demonstrate its actual value to the United States,' Lee said. 'Instead of progressive political virtue signaling, the security council has the chance to prove its value, and settling disputes and brokering deals.' When nominating Waltz for the UN role, Trump praised him, saying he had 'worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first'. Trump's first nominee, the New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, had a confirmation hearing in January and was expected to be confirmed, but Trump abruptly withdrew her nomination in March, citing risks to the GOP's historically slim House majority. If confirmed, Waltz would arrive at the UN at a moment of great change. The world body is reeling from Trump's decision to slash foreign assistance – affecting its humanitarian aid agencies – and it anticipates US funding cuts to the UN annual budget. 'It's worth remembering, despite the cuts, the US is by far the most generous nation in the world,' said Waltz, responding to concerns that the administration's cuts to global programs hurt US global influence. Waltz added that some UN-funded research and projects were anti-American and received input from some member states, which the administration considers adversaries.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
As Waltz faces UN post hearings, an update on the Signal situation that led to his initial ousting
As Mike Waltz , President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , appears before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Tuesday for his confirmation hearing, focus returns to his ousting as national security adviser over what some referred to as 'Signalgate.' The former Florida Republican congressman served mere weeks in Trump's administration before revelations that he mistakenly added journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic to a private Signal chat that was used to discuss sensitive military plans , including planning for strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen.
Fox News
a day ago
- Politics
- Fox News
‘Profound cowardice': Booker slams Waltz for 'failure of leadership,' Signalgate accountability
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., accused former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz of displaying "profound cowardice" at Waltz's confirmation hearing to represent the U.S. at the U.N. Tuesday, amid questions about Waltz's role in the Signal group chat that Waltz's team had set up to discuss strikes against the Houthis in March. Booker, who refused to ask Waltz any questions, said that Waltz failed to take accountability when other lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee asked him about what has been called "Signalgate." While members of the Trump administration have said no classified information was disclosed in the chat, which mistakenly included a journalist, Democrats have claimed that certain details were classified and jeopardized the safety of the troops involved in the strikes. "It compounds what I think is disqualifying about you for this position. It also, to me, just shows profound cowardice," Booker said. "You should step up right now." "I just watched with great disappointment that even after weeks, if not months of reflection, you couldn't sit before this committee and take some responsibility and talk constructively about what's learned," Booker said. Waltz faced questions earlier from Sens. Chris Coons, D-Conn, and Tim Kaine, D-Va., on his involvement in the group chat, where a journalist from the Atlantic was included along with other top administration officials such as Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. During their questioning, Waltz maintained that no classified information was shared in the group chat, and said that no disciplinary action was taken following a White House investigation. The Pentagon's inspector general's investigation is currently ongoing. "I have nothing but deep disappointment in what I consider a failure of leadership on your part. God, America needs now more than ever — forget the partisanship — just people to step up and show heart and integrity and honor," Booker said. "When you lie, defer, deflect, demean and degrade journalists, to me it's absolutely unacceptable. I have no questions. I cannot support your nomination. I think you've shown a failure of leadership at a time that America especially needs people of honor to stand up and show what leadership actually is." Waltz, who before his time at the National Security Council previously served as a U.S. congressman from Florida and is a retired Army National Guard colonel and former Green Beret, challenged Booker's statement. "I appreciate the men and women that I've had to lead in combat," Waltz said. "And I think the last thing they would call me as a coward." Waltz and Hegseth both faced scrutiny for their involvement in the Signal chat that Waltz's team created, where members of the Trump administration discussed strike plans against the Houthis. In March, Waltz claimed he bore "full responsibility" for the Signal group chat, and the Trump administration has historically maintained no classified information was shared over the chats. The Atlantic published the full exchange of messages, which revealed that Hegseth included certain attack details such as specific aircraft and times of the strikes. President Donald Trump announced Waltz's departure from heading up the National Security Council at the White House May 1, and hours later announced the former Florida congressman's nomination to represent the U.S. at the U.N. Waltz could not be reached for comment by Fox News Digital.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Mike Waltz, Trump's pick for U.N. ambassador, to testify at Senate confirmation hearing
Washington — President Trump's pick to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, is set to testify Tuesday at his Senate confirmation hearing, the first time he'll publicly face questions from lawmakers about his role in a Signal chat in which top administration officials inadvertently disclosed sensitive details about a military strike in Yemen. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and Democrats have said they expect it will be "brutal" for Waltz. The role — the last of Mr. Trump's Cabinet to be confirmed — has been vacant for six months, leaving the U.S. without a top representative on a major world stage as several international crises play out. If confirmed, Waltz would take the position as Mr. Trump's frustrations increase with Russia over its refusal to end its war in Ukraine and as the U.S. seeks to manage tensions with China and Iran. Waltz was ousted as Mr. Trump's national security adviser in May, weeks after the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, revealed that he had unexpectedly received a connection request on the encrypted messaging app from a user with Waltz's name. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared sensitive details of an upcoming military operation in the chat, which included others like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The story ricocheted through Washington, with Democratic lawmakers demanding an investigation into why highly sensitive information was being discussed on a commercially available messaging app, rather than secure government channels. Administration officials acknowledged the conversation was "sensitive" but denied that the operational details shared in the chat were classified. Waltz admitted that he created the chat, but denied knowing how Goldberg's contact information got into his phone. Sources previously told CBS News that Waltz's nomination for the ambassador role, a high-profile post in New York, was a last-minute decision by the president, and that the Signal controversy was one of the factors that led to his departure from the National Security Council. Mr. Trump named Waltz as his national security adviser, a position that does not require Senate confirmation, days after the Florida Republican was reelected to a fourth term in Congress. The pick cut into Republicans' narrow majority in the House and Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, pleaded with Mr. Trump not to poach any more members for administration roles. The slim majority stalled Mr. Trump's first choice for U.N. ambassador, Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York. When nominating Waltz, Mr. Trump said he had asked Stefanik to remain in Congress, where she could help advance his legislative agenda.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Mike Waltz to be grilled over Signal chat saga at hearing for UN role
Mike Waltz, President Donald Trump's nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations, is scheduled to face questioning from lawmakers on Tuesday. This marks his first public appearance since his removal as national security adviser, following revelations he mistakenly added a journalist to a private Signal chat discussing sensitive military plans. The former Republican congressman is set to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing. Donald Trump is seeking to fill this long-vacant Cabinet position after months of delays, including the withdrawal of a previous candidate. Senators will have their initial opportunity to scrutinise Mr Waltz over reports from March that he included The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, in a private text chain on an unclassified messaging app, which was used to plan strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen. Waltz took responsibility even as criticism mounted against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who shared the sensitive plans in the chat that included several other high-level national security officials. Hegseth shared the same information in another Signal chat that included family, but Trump has made clear Hegseth has his support. Waltz was removed as national security adviser in May — replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio — and nominated for the U.N. role. Trump praised Waltz in the announcement, saying, 'From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first.' The United Nations is facing major changes If confirmed, Waltz would be coming to the U.N. at a moment of great change. The world body is reeling from Trump's decision to slash foreign assistance — affecting its humanitarian aid agencies — and it anticipates U.S. funding cuts to the U.N. annual budget. Under an 'America First' foreign policy realignment, the White House has asserted that "some of the U.N.'s agencies and bodies have drifted' from their founding mission and 'act contrary to the interests of the United States while attacking our allies and propagating anti-Semitism.' With America being the largest United Nations donor, cutting U.S. funding to the U.N. budget would greatly impair operations. Facing financial instability, the U.N. has spent months shedding jobs and consolidating projects while beginning to tackle long-delayed reforms. The U.N. is also facing growing frustration over what critics describe as a lack of efficiency and power in delivering on its mandate to end conflict and prevent wars. John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. who was also national security adviser during Trump's first term, was critical of the current state of the U.N. 'It's probably in the worst shape it's been in since it was founded,' Bolton, now an outspoken Trump critic, recently told The Associated Press. Waltz has been meeting with senators Waltz spent the last several weeks meeting with Democrats and Republicans on the Foreign Affairs committee. Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Monday that she and Waltz discussed a wide range of issues, including whether the Trump administration would use the U.N. to strengthen alliances and combat Chinese influence. 'I asked him questions about 'Signalgate,' but I also talked to him about how we are going to sway other nations within the United Nations to our side, in light of how much influence the PRC is having on other nations,' the Illinois senator said, using an acronym for the People's Republic of China. Even with Democratic opposition, Waltz only needs a majority in the 53-47 Senate, which Republicans control. 'He'll be fine. Mike won't have any issues,' said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. 'I mean, the Democrats are gonna do their thing. Whatever. Mike's used to taking incoming fire.' It is unclear how Waltz would approach the job. Trump's first nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, had built a track record in Congress of criticizing the U.N. She vowed during her confirmation hearing in January to combat what she called antisemitism at the world body and lead a review of U.S. funding. She was expected to be confirmed, but Trump abruptly withdrew her nomination in March, citing risks to the GOP's historically slim House majority. At the time, the loss of a mere handful of seats could have swung the House majority to Democrats and derailed their recently successful efforts to enact Trump's sweeping agenda. Waltz is still on the White House payroll Waltz, whose Florida House seat was filled during a special election earlier this year, has spent the last few months on the White House payroll despite being removed as national security adviser. The latest list of White House salaries, current as of July 1, includes Waltz earning an annual salary of $195,200. A White House official, granted anonymity to discuss personnel matters, said Waltz stayed on to 'ensure a smooth and successful transition given the extreme importance of the role of NSA.' Waltz was the first Green Beret elected to the House and easily won reelection for a fourth term in November before Trump asked him to join the administration.
