Trump nominates Waltz as UN ambassador and Rubio as interim national security adviser

WASHINGTON — On Thursday morning, word leaked that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz would be stepping down. President Donald Trump then made the surprising announcement in a Truth Social post that he would nominate Waltz to serve as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio would serve in a dual role.

"I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations," wrote Trump. "From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation’s Interests first. I know he will do the same in his new role. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fight tirelessly to Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Waltz came under fire in the wake of Signalgate for accidentally adding the editor of The Atlantic to a group chat on the Signal app on which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared classified war plans about a U.S. attack on Houthi rebels. Rubio will be the first person to serve in those roles simultaneously since Henry Kissinger under President Richard Nixon.