President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Representative Michael Waltz, a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, as his national security adviser, according to sources familiar with the decision.
The announcement is expected soon, though it has raised concerns on Capitol Hill about the potential loss of a sitting GOP member from the House of Representatives, where every vacancy requires a special election.The move places Waltz, a three-term congressman from Florida, at the center of critical national security challenges, including ongoing military aid to Ukraine, the deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea, threats from Iran-backed militia groups, and efforts to mediate between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. Waltz’s appointment would also likely increase scrutiny of U.S. foreign policy and military readiness.
Waltz, the first Green Beret elected to Congress, is known for his strong defense policy credentials. He currently serves as chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. A staunch supporter of Trump, Waltz has endorsed the former president’s policies, including advocating for a tough stance on China, and he called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing over human rights abuses related to the Uighur population and COVID-19 origins.
Waltz has also been a vocal critic of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, particularly after the deaths of 13 U.S. service members at Kabul’s Abbey Gate. He has urged accountability for those responsible for the chaotic evacuation and the failure to rescue thousands of Americans and allies left behind.
Known for his hawkish views, Waltz has frequently echoed Trump’s concerns about the military’s increasing focus on diversity and equity programs. In a recent statement, Waltz underscored his commitment to strengthening U.S. military readiness: “Our national security depends on turning our focus away from woke priorities and back to winning wars.”
A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Waltz served as a Green Beret and completed multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. He earned four Bronze Stars, including two with valor. Waltz also worked as a policy adviser at the Pentagon under Defense Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates.
A spokesperson for Trump’s transition team confirmed that the president-elect will soon begin announcing key appointments for his second administration, though no official statement has been made yet regarding the national security adviser role.
