Michael Waltz

Michael Waltz
Born	Michael George Waltz
Nationality	American
Occupation	Diplomat, politician, military officer
Title	U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Employer	United States Mission to the United Nations
Known for	32nd U.S. Representative to the United Nations; former U.S. National Security Advisor; former U.S. Representative for Florida's 6th congressional district

Michael George Waltz (born 1974), commonly known as Mike Waltz, is an American politician, diplomat, and retired military officer who has served as the 32nd United States Ambassador to the United Nations since September 20, 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Waltz previously served as the National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump early in Trump's second term and, before that, represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. A decorated U.S. Army Green Beret who served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan and other conflict zones, Waltz became the first Green Beret elected to Congress. His career has spanned military service, defense policy advising, business, and elected office. As ambassador to the United Nations, Waltz has focused on institutional reform of the international body and has represented the United States on matters including the situation in Gaza and the persecution of Christians globally. The U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment on September 19, 2025, by a vote of 47–43.

Early Life

Michael George Waltz was born in 1974 in Boynton Beach, Florida. He grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was raised in a working-class household. Waltz has spoken publicly about his upbringing and the influence it had on his decision to pursue a career in military service and public office. Details regarding his parents and early family life have been discussed in various media appearances, though specific biographical information about his childhood prior to his military career remains limited in public records.

Education

Waltz attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army upon graduation. Waltz later pursued graduate studies and has cited his education as formative in shaping his approach to national security and defense policy.

Career

Military Service

Waltz served in the United States Army as a Special Forces officer, commonly known as a Green Beret. Over the course of his military career, he completed multiple combat deployments, including tours in Afghanistan as part of the broader War on Terror. His service in Afghanistan placed him in direct combat operations, and he earned recognition for his leadership and valor in the field. Waltz also served as a defense policy adviser to senior government officials, including during his time working at the Pentagon and the White House during previous administrations. His military background became a central element of his public identity and later political career, as he was recognized as the first Green Beret elected to the United States Congress.

Congressional Career

Waltz represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving multiple terms. During his time in Congress, he focused on issues related to national defense, veterans' affairs, and foreign policy. He served on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, among others. Waltz was known in Congress for his expertise on counterterrorism, China policy, and military readiness. He was a vocal advocate for a strong U.S. military posture and was involved in legislative efforts related to the National Defense Authorization Act and other defense spending measures. Waltz also engaged with issues related to Florida, including hurricane recovery and environmental matters affecting his district.

National Security Advisor

At the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term in January 2025, Waltz was appointed as the National Security Advisor. In this role, he served as the president's principal adviser on national security matters, coordinating policy across the interagency process involving the Department of Defense, Department of State, intelligence community, and other relevant agencies. His tenure as National Security Advisor preceded his nomination and confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations later in 2025.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

On September 19, 2025, the United States Senate voted 47–43 to confirm Michael Waltz as the 32nd U.S. Representative to the United Nations. He was sworn in on September 20, 2025, and assumed his duties at the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York City.

Confirmation and Appointment

Waltz's nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations was put forward by President Trump following Waltz's departure from the National Security Advisor role. The Senate confirmation vote of 47–43 largely followed partisan lines. Upon taking office, Waltz became the chief representative of the United States at the United Nations, with the rank of ambassador.

Reform Agenda

From the outset of his tenure, Waltz made institutional reform of the United Nations a central priority. In an interview with Martha MacCallum on Fox News in October 2025, Waltz stated: "Well, as President Trump said, and I've said to my colleagues all week long, we have to get the UN – and said to the Secretary-General – we" need reform, signaling the administration's intention to press for changes in the structure and operations of the international body.

In a December 2025 interview with the Daily Wire's "Morning Wire" program, Waltz elaborated on the reform agenda, stating: "Yeah, well, he does, President Trump does. I do too. It absolutely needs reform, and reforms at the top of our agenda." This indicated that UN reform remained a sustained focus of U.S. diplomatic efforts under his ambassadorship rather than a temporary talking point.

Gaza and the UN Security Council

Waltz played a role in U.S. efforts related to the Gaza conflict at the United Nations Security Council. In November 2025, the United States Mission to the United Nations issued a statement titled "Key Regional Partners Stand Behind Gaza UN Security Council Resolution," indicating U.S. engagement in diplomatic efforts to address the situation in Gaza through multilateral channels. The press release announced that key regional partners had expressed support for a UN Security Council resolution on the matter, reflecting diplomatic coordination led in part by the U.S. Mission under Waltz's leadership.

Religious Persecution Advocacy

In a November 2025 interview with "Fox & Friends," Waltz highlighted the issue of global religious persecution, stating that "78 countries, 330 million Christians being persecuted around the world. It is the most persecuted religion across the Middle East and Africa." This emphasis on the persecution of Christians became a recurring theme in his public statements as ambassador, positioning it as a priority area for U.S. engagement at the United Nations.

Diplomatic Travel and Engagement

In December 2025, Waltz completed his first official trip as UN Ambassador, which was discussed in an interview with Lara Trump on the program "My View." During the interview, Lara Trump noted that Waltz was "fresh off of your first official trip as UN" ambassador, though the specific destination and purpose of the trip were not detailed in the available transcript excerpt.

Media Appearances and Public Engagement

As UN Ambassador, Waltz maintained an active media presence, conducting interviews with several television and digital media outlets. In addition to the interviews with Fox News, Fox Business, Fox & Friends, and the Daily Wire referenced above, Waltz participated in an interview with Maria Bartiromo of Fox Business in late 2025, in which he discussed U.S. priorities at the United Nations.

These media appearances reflected an approach to the ambassadorship that emphasized direct public communication about U.S. foreign policy goals and the administration's stance on multilateral institutions.

Personal Life

Michael Waltz has been open about his military background and its influence on his personal and professional life. He has spoken about the experiences of military families and the challenges of combat deployments. Specific details regarding his personal life, including family information, remain limited in the available sourced material.

Recognition

Waltz's career has been marked by several notable distinctions. He was recognized as the first U.S. Army Green Beret elected to the United States Congress, a distinction that drew national attention during his initial campaign for Florida's 6th congressional district. His military decorations reflect his combat service in Afghanistan and other theaters of operation. His appointment as National Security Advisor and subsequent confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations represent two of the most senior positions in the U.S. national security and foreign policy apparatus. The Senate confirmation vote of 47–43 in September 2025 formalized his role as the 32nd U.S. Representative to the United Nations.