President-elect Donald Trump formally announced on Tuesday that Rep. Mike Waltz (R–Fla.) will serve as national security adviser in his incoming administration.
“Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda, and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” said Trump, in a statement announcing the appointment.
With an office located in the West Wing of the White House, the national security adviser directly advises the president on all matters of national security. This position does not require a Senate confirmation, so Waltz can begin work immediately after Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20.
According to his official congressional office website, Waltz served in the nation’s armed services for 27 years. He was a combat-decorated Green Beret in the U.S. Army and a retired colonel in the National Guard. He was also a military adviser in George W. Bush’s administration and worked under multiple Secretaries of Defense as a defense policy director.
Waltz has represented Florida’s 6th Congressional District since 2019. He currently sits on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
If Waltz accepts the position, the successor to his congressional seat will be decided by special election. It’s unclear who would run as the Republican nominee to replace him.
The Florida congressman won reelection to his fourth term just last week, defeating Democrat James Stockton by 32 points.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.) praised Trump’s decision to appoint Waltz as his national security adviser.
“He [Waltz] believes in a strong military to deter bad actors, and when it comes to radical Islam and the threats it presents to our nation, he is well informed and prepared to advise President Trump on how to keep us safe. He will push our allies to do more—as they should,” Graham said on X late Monday, as unconfirmed media reports about the Waltz appointment began circulating.
Less than one week after winning the presidency for a second time, Trump has already made several moves to staff his administration.
The president-elect announced Monday that Rep. Elise Stefanik (R–N.Y.) will serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin will head the Environmental Protection Agency.
Trump tapped Tom Homan to be his “border czar” on Sunday. Homan, who was once acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), will be tasked with executing the president-elect’s campaign promise of mass deportations.
Susie Wiles, who was Trump’s campaign manager, will be the first female White House chief of staff in history.
President Joe Biden’s current national security adviser is Jake Sullivan, who formerly worked on the staffs of former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Biden will host Trump in a formal White House visit on Wednesday, the pair’s first meeting since their June presidential debate. This will be Trump’s first time back in the presidential residence since he left office upon Biden’s Jan. 20, 2021, inauguration.