Waltz confirmed as U.N. ambassador, vows reforms and tougher stance on antisemitism and woke programs
New U.S. ambassador Michael Waltz seeks to reform the UN and push back on 'woke' initiatives as he assumes duties amid NATO tensions and a Baltic airspace incident
Michael Waltz was confirmed Friday by the U.S. Senate as the United States' ambassador to the United Nations, ending a nearly nine-month vacancy at the world body. Officials familiar with his plans described an agenda that includes reforming U.N. agencies, rooting out antisemitism at the U.N., and curbing what they described as woke programs, with a goal of returning the organization to its stated peacemaking mission.
A source familiar with Waltz's priorities told Fox News Digital that he intends to press for reforms that would "Make the U.N. great again," notably by restructuring climate-related and other programs and by sharpening U.S. representation in key U.N. bodies. The source said Waltz plans to push the United States to take a more aggressive posture in international standard-setting bodies that impact aviation, telecommunications, space and other sectors. The plan, described by the source as part of a broader effort to recenter U.S. engagement, aims to address what supporters view as an encroachment by some U.N. programs and agencies on national sovereignty and economic interests.
Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel and former Green Beret who previously served as a Florida Republican in the U.S. House, was confirmed in a narrow vote that ended the U.N. vacuum just as the General Assembly opened in New York. In remarks during his confirmation hearing, he argued for UN reforms and said there should be one place in the world where all parties can talk, while warning that the body's drift away from peacemaking must be reversed.
His supporters say the aim is to align the U.N. with President Trump's foreign policy priorities and with the State Department's restructuring under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They say Waltz intends to push for "back to basics" diplomacy that focuses on preventing wars and improving U.S. engagement with member states rather than defaulting to consensus-building at the expense of U.S. interests.
On his first day at the U.N., Waltz warned that the United States and its allies would defend "every inch" of NATO territory after Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace, a confrontation that underscored growing concerns about Moscow's posture near the Baltic region. The remark came during opening remarks at the U.N. General Assembly high-level week and reflected a broader stance that Washington and its partners will deter aggression in Europe.
The incident involved three Russian MiG-31 jets crossing into Estonian airspace — the closest incursion to Estonia's Parliament building in years — and followed recent demonstrations of Moscow's willingness to press airspace and border limits near NATO members. Waltz's remarks signaled that the United States views such maneuvers as a test of NATO's resolve and a mandate to reinforce alliance commitments in the region.
Officials described Waltz's approach as part of a broader push to be more assertive in international rule-making forums that affect U.S. businesses and the global economy. A source said China has been especially aggressive in agencies governing aviation, telecommunications, space and shipping, and that Washington must respond with stronger leadership and reforms to advance American interests and security standards. The new U.N. ambassador's stance, these officials added, aligns with a broader pattern of U.S. diplomacy seeking to couple multilateral engagement with clear, national-security-focused objectives.
Observers say Waltz's appointment reflects a deliberate shift in how the United States engages at the United Nations and a willingness to link UN reform with broader strategic goals in Europe and beyond. As the General Assembly continues its high-level week, U.S. officials say the administration intends to press forward with reforms at the UN while reinforcing commitments to NATO and allied security structures in response to ongoing strains and new challenges on the world stage.
Ultimately, Waltz's tenure will hinge on translating reform rhetoric into concrete actions among 193 member states and translating the U.N.'s multilateral platform into tangible protections for U.S. interests, alongside a sustained U.S. commitment to NATO and allied security amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.
