Trump Picks Rep. Mike Waltz To Head Up National Security

It’s been reported that President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to serve as his national security adviser, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Waltz brings a wealth of experience as a Green Beret with service in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa.

Since 2019, he’s represented a Florida congressional district, sitting on the Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence committees.

Waltz participates in the House’s China Task Force, often voicing concern over the U.S.’s preparedness for regional conflicts, and has been critical of U.S. support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

During a Fox News appearance, Waltz spoke about the urgency of rescuing American hostages held by Hamas.

“We still have seven American citizens held hostage,” he remarked. “By the time of inauguration day, they will have been held longer than the Iranians held our hostages in 1979.”

He called their prolonged captivity a “failure” for the Biden/Harris administration, who he accused of a pandering “concessions based approach towards Iran.”

Waltz highlighted what he expects to be Trump’s approach to mitigating the situation, noting that the president-elect “knows that if Iran is bankrupt, then they can’t send money out to all of their terrorist proxies, much less launch missiles at our great ally, Israel.”

Meanwhile, it’s anticipated that Trump will appoint Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as secretary of state.

The New York Times relayed Trump’s consideration of Rubio, who is also known for aligning with Trump and Waltz on both international conflicts.

If appointed, Rubio, who is a member of the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees would become the nation’s first Latino Secretary of State.

Trump has rounded out more of his cabinet with New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as his ambassador to the UN, Tom Homan as the new “border czar,” and former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA.

Since Trump’s sweeping victory, Republicans have gained control of the Senate and are projected to take over the house with a 218-209 Republican majority.

Recent elections saw Republican victories, including Rob Bresnahan in Pennsylvania’s 8th District, Ryan Mackenzie unseating Rep. Susan Wild in the 7th District.