Trump selects Mike Waltz as national security adviser
Photo: US President-elect Donald Trump (Getty Images)
Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, continues to form his team. Specifically, Michael Waltz will serve as his national security advisor, according to Reuters.
Waltz is expected to brief Trump on key national security issues and coordinate with various agencies. Two sources familiar with the situation reported information about the newly elected US president's decision.
Reuters added that the national security advisor position does not require Senate confirmation.
What Mike Waltz is known for
Reuters notes that Waltz has a long history in Washington's political circles.
He was a defense policy director for defense secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates and was elected to Congress in 2018.
Currently, Waltz is the chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, overseeing military logistics, and also serves on the House Intelligence Committee.
In addition, Mike Waltz is part of the Republican China Task Force and argues that the US military is not adequately prepared for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.
Political views and support for Trump
Waltz is a staunch Trump supporter who has criticized China’s actions in the Asia-Pacific region and emphasized the need for the US to prepare for a potential conflict.
In his book, published earlier this year, Waltz outlined a five-point strategy to prevent war with China. This included rapidly arming Taiwan, reassuring US allies in the Pacific, and modernizing aircraft and ships.
Waltz's views on Ukraine have shifted. After Russia's full-scale invasion, he urged the Biden administration to provide more weapons to Ukraine to help repel Russian forces. However, last month, he stated that the US should reassess its goals in Ukraine.
"Is it in America's interest, or are we going to put in the time, the treasure, and the resources that we need in the Pacific right now badly?" Waltz asked.
Waltz also praised Trump for pushing NATO allies to spend more on defense. However, unlike the elected president, he did not advocate for the US to leave the Alliance.
"Look, we can be allies and friends and have tough conversations," Waltz said last month.
Furthermore, Waltz, who criticized the Biden administration for the failed withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021, publicly lauded Trump's foreign policy views.
"Disruptors are often not nice ... frankly, our national security establishment and certainly a lot of people that are dug into bad old habits in the Pentagon need that disruption," he said earlier this year.
Reuters notes that earlier this year, Waltz demonstrated his loyalty to Trump. Specifically, he attended a hearing on the case concerning the hush-money payment to a porn star about her relationship with Trump. The hearing occurred on May 16 in Manhattan, and Waltz was one of the few lawmakers to attend.
Trump’s team formation
Yesterday, Donald Trump nominated Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as the US Ambassador to the United Nations.
Read more about potential members of Trump’s new administration in RBC-Ukraine's article.
