President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Republican Representative Mike Waltz as his national security adviser, according to two sources familiar with the decision, reported Reuters on Monday. Waltz, a retired Army Green Beret and a prominent critic of China, is known for his strong stance on U.S. preparedness in the Asia-Pacific region.
A dedicated Trump ally, Waltz serves as a colonel in the National Guard and has been vocal about China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific, emphasizing that the United States needs to be ready for potential conflicts. In his new role, which doesn’t require Senate confirmation, Waltz will advise Trump on national security matters and coordinate efforts across government agencies.
Waltz has been critical of the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and has supported Trump’s foreign policy approach. Earlier this year, he called Trump a necessary “disruptor” in Washington, remarking, “Disruptors are often not nice … our national security establishment and many entrenched figures in the Pentagon need that disruption.”
Before his election to Congress in 2018, Waltz had an extensive career in Washington. He served as a defense policy director under Defense Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. Currently, he chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Logistics and is a member of the House Intelligence Committee. Waltz also serves on the Republican-led China Task Force and has advocated for strengthening U.S. military readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
In his recent book, Hard Truths: Think and Lead Like a Green Beret, Waltz outlined a five-part strategy to avoid war with China. His plan includes faster arms support for Taiwan, reassurance of U.S. allies in the Pacific, and modernization of military assets. Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Waltz shifted his stance on Ukraine, calling for increased U.S. military aid to support Ukraine against Russian forces.
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