President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly set to name Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican, as his national security adviser, according to sources familiar with the decision.
This key role involves advising the president on foreign and national security policies and does not require Senate confirmation.
Waltz, a decorated Green Beret veteran with multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, was first elected to Congress in 2018, succeeding Ron DeSantis after he became Florida’s governor.
Waltz is known for his firm stance on China, serving on the House China Task Force, which addresses the Chinese Communist Party's influence. He has also voiced skepticism about continued U.S. aid to Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.
“We have leverage, like taking the handcuffs off of the long-range weapons we provided Ukraine as well. And then, of course, I think we have plenty of leverage with Zelenskyy to get them to the table,” Michael Waltz told NPR earlier this month, referencing the possibility of pushing for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Waltz’s military career spanned nearly 30 years, during which he earned four Bronze Stars, two for valor. Prior to serving in Congress, he held key positions at the Pentagon and the White House, including defense policy director for Secretaries of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates.
Waltz’s wife, Julia Nesheiwat, also worked in the Trump administration, serving as Homeland Security adviser during the final year of Trump’s first term.
Trump's previous national security advisers included H.R. McMaster, John Bolton, and Robert O'Brien.
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