President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser has begun reaching out to allies on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as he prepares to be vetted for a new role as U.N. ambassador.
This week, Mike Waltz called Sen. John Curtis (R-UT), a former House colleague, to discuss his nomination. He also had a “far-ranging” conversation with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Tuesday that covered foreign policy.
“Our conversation was, when you’re ready, I’d love to sit down and talk with you,” Curtis told the Washington Examiner. “I do have some issues that I’d like to discuss with you, and we both agreed that we would make that happen.”
The phone calls represent some of the earliest outreach by Waltz since Trump removed him from the National Security Council one week ago, capping off weeks of apparent conflict with senior staff and a Signalgate controversy that consumed days of news coverage.
In a surprise move, Waltz was simultaneously nominated to represent Trump at the United Nations, the last vacant position in his Cabinet.
Three other Republicans on the committee, responsible for reviewing his nomination, said they’ve not spoken with Waltz, suggesting he is prioritizing existing relationships in the Senate first.
A source close to Waltz confirmed that the team supporting his confirmation is still coming together and that no private meetings have been held yet. Both Curtis and Cruz described their conversations as informal in nature, while the source noted Waltz has also received congratulatory calls since his nomination last Thursday.
“Mike is a good friend,” said Cruz, estimating their phone call lasted about 30 minutes. “I think he’s a terrific nominee to the U.N., and I think we need a strong ambassador at the U.N. who will stand up and fight for America.”
Waltz is expected to have an easy time with Republicans on the Foreign Relations Committee, owing to his national security background and six years representing Florida in the House. He is a former Green Beret who worked as a policy adviser at the Pentagon.
“I’ve got the highest regard and respect for Mike Waltz and fully support his nomination,” said Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT).
Curtis and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) also expressed support on Wednesday.
Waltz will nonetheless face Democratic scrutiny after he mistakenly added a journalist to a Signal group chat detailing sensitive military plans. The controversy, plus private venting that he was not a good fit for national security adviser, contributed to his removal.
He reportedly clashed with chief of staff Susie Wiles and rankled some staffers with his hawkish foreign policy views.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, told the Washington Examiner she is undecided on Waltz’s nomination and that his confirmation hearing will “probably” decide her vote.
It’s customary for nominees to begin contacting senators of their own party first, but Waltz’s outreach is expected to expand to Democrats as well. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), another senior member, said he has so far not heard from Waltz.
Republicans are eager to move forward with Waltz’s nomination after Trump pulled Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), his first choice for U.N. ambassador, from consideration in March.
Her nomination, approved by the Foreign Relations Committee in January, languished for weeks as Republicans feared losing another House member to the Trump administration. Waltz resigned from his seat shortly before Trump’s inauguration, with a special election held in April to replace him.
SENATE GOP SADDLED WITH SIGNALGATE AS WALTZ PLUCKED TO FILL LAST CABINET POST
Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the Foreign Relations chairman, told the Washington Examiner he will move “as quickly as we can” on Waltz’s ambassador nomination. For now, the committee is waiting on his paperwork before scheduling a hearing.
On the National Security Council, Waltz has been replaced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on an interim basis, adding to his many jobs in the administration.