Mike Waltz, President Donald °Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is facing questions from lawmakers Tuesday for the first time since he was ousted as national security adviser in the weeks after he mistakenly added a journalist to a private Signal chat used to discuss sensitive military plans.
The hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will provide lawmakers an opportunity to grill Waltz over revelations in March that he on an unclassified messaging app that was used to discuss planning for strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen.
Waltz has spent the last several weeks meeting with Democrats and Republicans on the Foreign Affairs committee. If confirmed, Waltz would head to the U.N. at a moment of great change, as the world body is reeling from °Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’s decision to slash foreign assistance.
Here’s the latest:
NATO secretary-general says plan to send US weapons to Ukraine is still being worked out
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters that plans to sell NATO allies U.S. weaponry to pass on to Ukraine is still being developed following a meeting earlier this week with President Donald Trump.
“This is an ongoing process. This is not just one package,†Rutte responded Tuesday when asked what weapons packages would be included in the deal.
Rutte added that the details of the weapons packages were being worked out by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Ukraine.
Sen. Jackie Rosen questions Waltz’s continued White House salary after departure as national security advisor
“Surprisingly, you’ve been on the White House payroll for the last few months,†said Rosen. “Throughout this year, you’ve made (assertions) that, if confirmed, you would root out waste and unnecessary overhead at the UN. So can you confirm for us whether you’ve been receiving a salary from the White House since being let go as the NSA?â€
Waltz resented the claim that he was fired.
“I was not fired. The president never said that, nor did the vice president. I was kept on, as an advisor, transitioning a number of important, a number of important activities,†said Waltz.
“It’s also been publicly reported that you’ve been receiving almost $200,000 of the taxpayer money since you were dismissed from being the national security advisor,†said Rosen.
Waltz was listed as a White House “advisor†as of July 1, for which he receives an annual salary of $195,200. Rosen’s questions were the last round before the hearing was adjourned.
Waltz tells Senate hearing UN agency helping Palestinian refugees ‘must be dismantled’
Mike Waltz told his confirmation hearing to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations that staff members from the agency, known as UNRWA, were involved in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel, that its schools teach hatred of Jews.
“It simply not only needs to be defunded, which the president has put in place with his executive order, but it should be dismantled,†Waltz said, stressing that UNRWA cannot again have a humanitarian role in Gaza.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed a British human rights activist on Tuesday to carry out a strategic review of UNRWA to assess its impact under the “present political, financial, security and other constraints.â€
Israel has banned UNRWA from operating in its territory. It alleged that 19 out of UNRWA’s approximately 13,000 staff in Gaza participated in the Oct. 7 attacks.
UNRWA said it fired nine staffers after an internal U.N. investigation. Israel later alleged that about 100 other Palestinians in Gaza were Hamas members, but never provided any evidence to the United Nations.
Waltz accuses UN of antisemitism and being a bloated bureaucracy that doesn’t get things done
Mike Waltz told his confirmation hearing to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations that the U.N. General Assembly and U.N. schools in Gaza have promoted “antisemitic hate.â€
He said U.N. revenue “has quadrupled in the last 20 years†but hasn’t been commensurate with an increase in world peace, a key U.S. goal for the U.N. He called for reforms saying, “The U.N. has ballooned over 80 agencies with overlapping missions and waste resources.â€
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly decried the resurgence of antisemitism and the U.N. holds an annual commemoration of the Nazi Holocaust during World War II.
Like all his recent predecessors as U.N. chief, Guterres has sought to reform the United Nations which was born on the ashes of World War II and at age 80 is struggling to tackle 21st century challenges. Last September, the General Assembly adopted a “Pact for the Future†with a blueprint for reforms == but whether they will be implemented remains to be seen.
A quiet, stoic mood in the hearing room
Unlike past nomination hearings, attendees in the Senate chamber did not wear t-shirts, veteran attire, medical scrubs or other clothing outside of business attire.
Many seated attendees were family of the nominees and featured multiple generations. Most attendees faces were generally stone-faced throughout the hearing, with mild chuckles and grimaces during more tense moments of the proceedings.
The proceedings have not been interrupted by any protestors. Security was tight outside the doors onto the chamber.
Sen. Cory Booker: ‘I have no questions for you, sir. I have nothing but deep disappoint for you, sir’
“I’ve watched this hearing, and I’ve been really disappointed,†said the New Jersey Democrat. “What’s been troubling to me about your nomination from the beginning is your failure to just stand up and take accountability for mistakes that you made and that all Americans know that you’ve made.â€
Booker said that “every one of us has made mistakes†but that Americans expect from leaders “is for people to stand up and just take responsibility, take accountability.â€
“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,†said Booker.
“Instead, you do what seems to be yet another creative tool that people are doing, which is, ‘Hey, let me just blame Biden’.â€
Waltz did not directly respond to Booker’s comments but in a comment in response to a question from Sen. Rick Scott, Waltz said: “I appreciate the men and women that I’ve had to lead in combat. And I think the last thing that would call me is a coward.â€
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says US has energy to win AI race, China doesn’t
Lutnick, speaking at an energy and tech summit in Pittsburgh, said the “number one investor in the environmental narrative is China†and that the U.S. has the energy capacity to drive the artificial intelligence revolution, but China doesn’t.
China is opening a coal plant every week and wants the U.S. to close theirs in an effort to hamstring the U.S.′ ability to win the AI race, Lutnick told the crowd during a panel discussion.
“The AI revloultion is upon us,†Lutnick said. “The Trump administration will not let us lose. We need to do clean beautiful coal. We need to do natural gas. We need to embrace nuclear, we need to embrace it all because we have the power to do it and if we don’t do it, we’re fools.â€
Waltz denounces UN global reports that examined US domestic policy
Waltz stressed that the Trump administration’s diplomatic strategy would be focused on cutting costs to what he called “waste, fraud and abuse that are endemic to the U.N. system.â€
“It’s worth remembering, despite the cuts, the U.S. is by far the most generous nation in the world,†said Waltz, responding to concerns that the administration’s cuts to global programs hurt U.S. influence.
Waltz added that some U.N.-funded research and projects were anti-American and received input from some U.N. members who the administration considers adversaries.
“The U.N.‘s radical politicization, such reports as ‘Stolen Native American Land’ reports and investigations, called the ‘George Floyd mechanism’, labeling American police and America systemically racist with input from countries like Cuba and Venezuela, is unacceptable,†said Waltz.
Senate committee chair says US pays 22% of UN regular budget but doesn’t get its agenda adopted
Sen. Jim Risch was critical of the United States being the biggest provider to the U.N.’s $3.72 billion budget and the separate budget for its far-flung peacekeeping operations, yet according to him, Washington is not getting the commensurate support at the 193-nation world body.
Assessments paid by all U.N. member nations to the regular budget are based on their economies. The U.S., with the world’s biggest economy, is expected to pay 22% of the regular budget, while China, with the second-largest economy, recently had its share raised to 20%.
Last year, 152 of the U.N.’s 193 member nations paid their dues in full, including China, but 41 countries did not, including the United States.
A top Democrat warns against US withdrawal from international organizations
“I don’t think that most Americans want to live in a world where the Chinese Communist Party is driving the agenda,†said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee.
“If we walk away from international bodies like the U.N., the result won’t be reforms that advance American interests,†she added.
Shaheen said she hoped that, if confirmed, Waltz would work with the Senate “to preserve America’s ability to lead.â€
“Put simply, we cannot shape these organizations or even push for the reforms that we want unless we’re at the table,†Shaheen said.
Senate committee’s top Republican says Waltz nomination comes at ‘critical time’ for geopolitics
Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho said Waltz will help “return the U.N. to its core and founding mandate of maintaining international peace and security†and restrain “mission creep†at the international body.
“The U.N. is always a challenge and desperately needs reform, which we’ve been unable to accomplish so far,†said Risch, adding, “There’s a lot of anti-American sentiment at the U.N.â€
Risch warned that “China is working with our adversaries to undermine America and our allies†and said that Waltz’s time as U.N. ambassador comes at a “critical time†for geopolitical tensions between countries like China and Russia.
Sen. Mike Lee introduces Waltz and issues a warning to the U.N.
The Republican from Utah, a friend of Waltz, called him “one of the most well-qualified U.S. ambassador nominees to the United Nations ever,†before listing off his military service as a Green Beret in the Army and praising his work on national security issues during his time in Congress.
Lee lambasted the efficacy of the U.N. and said the Trump administration “has some legitimate concerns†about the international body, which Lee called “a disaster and a detriment†to U.S. interests.
“With Waltz at the helm, the U.N. will have what I regard as what should be its last chance to demonstrate its actual value to the United States,†Lee continued. “Instead of progressive political virtue signaling, the Security Council has the chance to prove its value, and settling disputes and brokering deals.â€
The stakes of Waltz’s UN hearing
If confirmed, Waltz would head to the U.N. at a moment of great change. The world body is reeling from °Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’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.â€
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.
Sen. Mike Lee introduces Waltz and issues a warning to the U.N.
The , a friend of Waltz, called him “one of the most well-qualified U.S. ambassador nominees to the United Nations ever,†before listing off his military service as a Green Beret in the Army and praising his work on national security issues during his time in Congress.
Lee lambasted the efficacy of the U.N. and said the Trump administration “has some legitimate concerns†about the international body, which Lee called “a disaster and a detriment†to U.S. interests.
“Instead of progressive political virtue signaling, the Security Council has the chance to prove its value, and settling disputes and brokering deals,†Lee continued.
Waltz enters Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing
°Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’s pick for U.N. ambassador entered the chamber alone and sat alongside the administration’s ambassadorial nominees to Portugal and Sweden. Senators from both parties are also coming in.
Members of Waltz’s family sat behind him alongside kin of the other nominees.
Trump responds to inflation report showing price pressures by calling for Fed rate cuts
The monthly inflation report showed signs that tariffs are pushing up prices, but Trump is declaring victory over inflation anyway.
“Consumer Prices LOW,†Trump posted on Truth Social. “Bring down the Fed Rate, NOW!!!â€
The consumer price index report for June showed a 2.7% annual inflation rate, meaningfully higher than the Fed’s 2% inflation target based on a separate measure of prices.
However, Trump has brushed aside concerns about tariffs and pressured Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to instead cut the short-term interest rates, a move that could accelerate inflationary pressures.
Trump further posted that the “Fed should cut Rates by 3 Points. Very Low Inflation. One Trillion Dollars a year would be saved!!!â€
It was unclear whether Trump wanted a 3-percentage point cut to the rate, which is effectively 4.33% right now. The Fed usually cuts rates in .25-percentage point increments.
Inflation rose last month to its highest level in 4 months
Worsening inflation poses a political challenge for Trump, who promised during last year’s presidential campaign to immediately lower costs. Higher inflation will also likely heighten the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to cut its short-term interest rate, as Trump is loudly demanding.
The Labor Department said Tuesday that consumer prices for things like gas, food and groceries rose 2.7% in June from a year earlier, up from an annual increase of 2.4% in May. On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.3% from May to June, after rising just 0.1% the previous month.
°Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’s are also pushing up the cost of a range of goods, including furniture, clothing, and large appliances.
Trump urged supporters to see conspiracies everywhere. With Epstein, that’s coming back to haunt him
As his supporters erupt over the Justice Department’s in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation, President °Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’s strategy has been to downplay the issue.
His problem? That nothing-to-see-here approach doesn’t work for those who have learned from him that they must not give up until the government’s deepest, darkest secrets are exposed.
On Saturday, Trump used his Truth Social platform to again attempt to amid reports of infighting between Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino over the issue. He suggested the turmoil was undermining his administration, but that did little to mollify °Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’s supporters, who urged him to release the files or risk losing his base.
The political crisis is especially challenging for Trump because it’s one of his own making. The president has spent years stoking dark theories and that casts him as the only savior who can Now that he’s running the federal government, the community he helped build is . It’s demanding answers he either isn’t able to or does not want to provide.
â–¶ Read more about
Trump sounds more positive about NATO
Trump hailed as “amazing†the news from the NATO summit last month that member countries will increase defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product.
“Nobody thought that that was possible,†Trump told the BBC.
He has complained for a long time that the U.S. shoulders too much of the NATO burden and has demanded that countries devote more of their budgets to defense.
Reminded that he previously had called NATO “obsolete,†Trump said, “I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that. I do think it was past.â€
Trump says he wants to have a ‘good time’ on his upcoming UK state visit
Speaking about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump noted in the BBC interview, “I really like the prime minister, even though he’s a liberal.â€
Trump and Starmer have met several times, including in the Oval Office, and the prime minister was a trade framework with the United States to avoid the steep tariffs Trump is imposing on other countries.
Trump is due to visit Britain in mid-September for . Asked about his goals for the trip, Trump said, “I want to have a good time and respect King Charles, because he’s a great gentleman.â€
Trump and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, are set to visit the U.K. between Sept. 17 and 19 and will be hosted by and at Windsor Castle.
No U.S. president has been invited for a second state visit. Trump previously enjoyed state visit pomp and pageantry in 2019 during his first term when he was hosted by Charles’ late mother, .
Trump says he’s ‘disappointed’ but not ‘done’ with Putin, dodges on whether he trusts Russia’s leader
Asked about Putin in a telephone interview with the BBC that aired on Tuesday, Trump said, “I’m disappointed in him. But I’m not done with him, but I’m disappointed in him.â€
Trump said he thought he and Putin had reached a deal several times to end Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine, only to find out that Russia had just attacked Kyiv again.
The president dodged when asked if he trusts Putin. “I trust almost nobody, to be honest with you,†Trump said.
The Kremlin says more US weapons for Ukraine will extend the war
The Kremlin said Tuesday that new supplies of announced by President Trump will extend the conflict.
Asked about comments by Trump, who threatened Russia with steep tariffs if it fails to agree to a peace deal in 50 days and announced a rejuvenated pipeline for American weapons to reach Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “such decisions made in Washington, in NATO members and in Brussels are perceived by the Ukrainian side as a signal for continuing the war, not a signal for peace.â€
He reaffirmed that Russia is open to continuing the talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, but is still waiting for Kyiv to offer a date for their new round. “We are ready to continue the dialogue,†he said, adding that “we haven’t yet received signals about the third round and it’s hard to say what’s the reason.â€
Supreme Court allows Trump to lay off nearly 1,400 Education Department employees
The is allowing President Donald Trump to put his plan to dismantle the Education Department back on track and go through with laying off nearly 1,400 employees.
With the three liberal justices in dissent, the court on Monday paused an order from U.S. District Judge Myong Joun in Boston, who issued a preliminary injunction reversing the layoffs and calling into question the broader plan.
The layoffs “will likely cripple the department,†Joun wrote. A federal appeals court refused to put the order on hold while the administration appealed.
The high court action enables the administration to resume work on winding down the department, one of °Õ°ù³Ü³¾±è’s biggest campaign promises.
â–¶ Read more about
