Trump picks Rep. Mike Waltz to be his national security adviser
NBC2 days
Trump Makes Major Selections for Security, Foreign Policy Posts
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Above: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks before former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends during a town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and Fairgrounds in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 14, 2024. Image copyright: Jim Watson/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
US Pres.-elect Donald Trump has reportedly chosen Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) to be his national security advisor, an important role tasked with updating the president on national security concerns and coordinating with government agencies.
Waltz, 50, served 27 years in the Army, including as a Green Beret and National Guard Colonel. After serving several tours in the Middle East and Africa, he was elected to Congress in 2018, where he's been a vocal critic of China.
The Spin
Republican narrative
Americans voted for Trump because they want their country to be strong at home and abroad, and Trump is acknowledging that mandate. With Rubio and Waltz protecting the US against China, and Stephen Miller and Tom Homan cracking down on Biden's open border, the country is massively upgrading its national security. Trump is putting America first across the board.
Democratic narrative
Donald Trump wasn't lying when he promised to rule with force. He's appointed the most hardline officials to conduct deportation schemes and similarly hawkish politicians to run foreign relations. The US is about to lose any semblance of decency as Trump targets immigrants at home and the most vulnerable abroad.
Establishment-critical narrative
If anyone expected Trump to keep war hawks and neocons out of his new government, they would be disappointed. With Mike Waltz as his national security advisor, Marco Rubio as secretary of state, and Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador, Americans can expect the conflicts in the Middle East to continue over the next four years.
