The political storm around Mike Waltz is far from over
After being removed as national security adviser during an intensifying scandal, Waltz is now facing what lawmakers are terming a “brutal” confirmation process to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. His Trump administration nomination has sparked heated opposition on Capitol Hill, demonized by concerns over national security, political tensions, and what critics term a hazardous failure of judgment.
Speaking to Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) wasn’t subtle. Referring to an answer by host Jake Tapper, if Waltz were qualified to serve as America’s representative at the UN, Warner stated,
“Do you have faith in him to be U.N. ambassador?” Tapper asked.”
“I think it would be a brutal confirmation hearing,” Warner replied.
He made reference to Waltz being a part of an infamous Signal group chat with fellow lawmakers discussing top-secret military plans.
The scandal surrounds a Signal private chat that included top officials discussing the potential U.S. attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. The scandal began when Waltz inadvertently added The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the encrypted chat, exposing sensitive information and generating broad alarm about operational security.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a military veteran, also shared Warner’s concerns in an independent appearance on CBS’s Face the Nation.“It will be a brutal hearing,” Duckworth, a military veteran, said. “He is not qualified for the job just by nature of the fact he participated in the Signal chain. I believe everybody on that Signal chain needs to be fired, because not a single one of them spoke up and said, ‘Hey, this is inappropriate and we need to be in a secure channel.’”
In scathing remarks, Duckworth accused Waltz of “failing up,” and made it clear she would not support his nomination. “handling classified information,” she added, questioning his ability to serve in a sensitive diplomatic role.
While Waltz acknowledged that using Signal for such discussions was inappropriate, critics argue that his admission is too little or too late. Warner emphasized that even though Waltz recognized the breach, the damage to credibility—and potentially national security—had already been done.
The scandal doesn’t stop with Waltz. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was also part of the Signal chat, is now under scrutiny for allegedly sharing operational details. Warner has called for Hegseth’s dismissal and urged the Pentagon to explain what could have happened if adversaries gained access to the discussions.
With both parties gearing up for what promises to be a heated hearing, Waltz’s path to the United Nations is anything but assured. Lawmakers are expected to press him hard on his judgment, discretion, and the broader implications of his actions, a political and procedural battle that will unfold under the full glare of public scrutiny.
