Michael Waltz, the former Florida congressman and U.S. Army Green Beret, was confirmed by the United States Senate as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on September 19, 2025, a decision that comes at a pivotal moment for American diplomacy and global human rights advocacy. With a narrow 47-43 vote, the Senate’s approval marks the latest chapter in Waltz’s eventful political career, one shaped by both military service and recent controversy.
Waltz’s confirmation did not follow a straightforward partisan script. While most Republicans voted in his favor, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky broke ranks to oppose the nomination, citing concerns not detailed in the official record. In a notable show of bipartisanship, three Democrats—Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Mark Kelly of Arizona—crossed the aisle to support Waltz, tipping the balance in his favor. According to the U.S. Senate website, the final tally underscored the contentious nature of the appointment.
Waltz’s journey to the U.N. was anything but typical. Initially appointed as national security adviser by President Donald Trump, Waltz’s tenure was cut short in March 2025 after a controversy erupted over a Signal group chat, leading to his dismissal from the National Security Council. Yet, just two months later, Trump tapped him for the high-profile U.N. post after Representative Elise Stefanik of New York withdrew her nomination, a move designed to maintain the Republicans’ slim majority in the House of Representatives, as reported by the Washington Blade.
Reacting to his confirmation, Waltz posted on X, “THANK YOU President Trump & the U.S. Senate for your trust and confidence to Make the UN Great Again #MUNGA.” The phrase echoed Trump’s signature campaign rhetoric, signaling Waltz’s commitment to a renewed American presence on the world stage. His appointment also coincides with the United Nations General Assembly’s annual session in New York, where President Trump is scheduled to deliver a major address on Tuesday.
Waltz’s confirmation comes amid growing scrutiny of U.S. foreign policy priorities, particularly those related to human rights and LGBTQ advocacy. The Congressional Equality Caucus, co-chaired by Representatives Robert Garcia, Julie Johnson, and Sarah McBride, sent a letter on September 9 to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the State Department to restore LGBTQ and intersex-specific information to its annual human rights reports. The 2024 edition of the report, released last month, omitted references to violence and abuses based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics—a change that Jessica Stern, former special envoy for LGBTQ rights under the Biden-Harris administration, called “deliberate erasure.”
The letter from the caucus was unequivocal: “We strongly oppose your decision to remove the subsection on Acts of Violence Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC Subsection) from the State Department’s Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Human Rights Reports). We urge you to restore this information, or else ensure it is integrated throughout each human rights report.” The caucus emphasized that these reports are crucial for asylum seekers, advocates, and Americans traveling abroad, who rely on comprehensive data to assess risks and protection claims.
The debate over the human rights report is emblematic of broader tensions in U.S. policy, as both domestic and international advocacy groups warn that marginalized communities could face increased danger without robust federal documentation and support. The 2017 report, for example, included details of state-sponsored violence against LGBTQ individuals in Chechnya, including extrajudicial killings—information that is now absent from the latest edition.
Meanwhile, another urgent battle is playing out in Washington over HIV/AIDS funding. On September 3, Broadway actor Javier Muñoz, known for his role in “Hamilton,” and drag star Peppermint rallied on Capitol Hill alongside activists and lawmakers, urging Congress to block proposed cuts to HIV/AIDS programs. Their campaign, organized by the Save HIV Funding Campaign, comes in response to a House spending bill that would slash $525 million from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, gut the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s prevention efforts, and defund the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative. Over 1.2 million Americans living with HIV could see their services reduced or eliminated if the cuts proceed, according to The New York Times.
“We’re here to save HIV funding because it’s in jeopardy,” Peppermint told the Washington Blade before meeting with members of New York’s Congressional delegation. “Our legislature is making wild cuts as the result of the big bill, which affects many communities across the board, but especially in the realm of health care.” Muñoz, who has lived with HIV since 2002, added, “I’m living with HIV … there are people that you love, so there’s a personal stake in this fight for us.”
The fight to preserve HIV/AIDS funding has, for decades, enjoyed bipartisan support—a point both Muñoz and Peppermint stressed. “This is a bipartisan fight for the last 35 years,” said Muñoz, noting the urgency of the current threat. Peppermint agreed, saying, “AIDS and HIV, education and prevention is crucial, regardless of what party someone is.” Yet, as Muñoz pointed out, the brunt of funding cuts would fall on the most vulnerable: “We’re talking about trans women of color. We’re talking about Latin and Black gay men, and we’re talking about Black women. So, you can’t tell me that there isn’t a part of this that isn’t racist and homophobic.”
Internationally, the U.S. faces further diplomatic challenges. The Senate recently confirmed Brian Burch—a co-founder of an anti-LGBTQ Catholic group—as ambassador to the Vatican by a 49-44 vote. Burch, who has openly criticized Pope Francis (and now Pope Leo XIV) for a more inclusive stance on same-sex blessings, represents a conservative Catholic perspective at a time when the Vatican’s tone on LGBTQ issues is evolving. In his statement, Burch said, “I am profoundly grateful to President Trump and the U.S. Senate for this opportunity to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. The relationship between the Holy See and the United States remains one of the most unique in the world, with the global reach and moral witness of the Catholic Church serving as a critical component of U.S. efforts to bring about peace and prosperity.”
All these developments unfold as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure from activists and lawmakers to fully fund global health initiatives like PEPFAR, the U.S. program to combat HIV/AIDS worldwide. Despite bipartisan opposition, the administration has floated significant cuts, with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought attempting to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid through a “pocket rescission.” Protests and acts of civil disobedience have erupted in Washington as activists demand a reversal of these policies.
As Michael Waltz assumes his role at the United Nations, he steps into a diplomatic landscape marked by fierce debates over human rights, funding for global health, and the very definition of American leadership. The coming months will test whether the new ambassador—and the administration he serves—can navigate these challenges while upholding the values many Americans see as central to the country’s identity.
