Michael Waltz: Trump’s Pick for National Security Adviser and a Hardliner on China and Palestine

Days after securing victory in the U.S. presidential election, President-elect Donald Trump announced key members of his administration on November 12, 2024, who will lead the country for the next four years.

Among the notable appointments was Republican Representative Michael Waltz, who Trump selected to serve as his National Security Advisor. A hardline hawk on foreign policy, Waltz is one of Trump's staunch supporters and remains a loyal ally within the Republican Party.

“I am honoured to announce that Congressman Mike Waltz (R-FL) is hereby appointed to serve in my Cabinet as my National Security Advisor,” Trump said declaring the appointment.

“Mike retired as a Colonel, and is a nationally recognised leader in national security, a bestselling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism.”

“Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda, and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” he added.

Who is Michael Waltz, who will become the 29th national security advisor, succeeding Democrat Jake Sullivan?

Who’s Waltz?

Michael George Glen Waltz was born on January 31, 1974, in Boynton Beach, Florida. Coming from a family with a strong military background, both his father and grandfather served in the U.S. Navy in leadership roles.

Waltz is married to Julia Nesheiwat, a former veteran who served in the administrations of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump (2016–2020). She is originally from Jordan.

Waltz attended the Virginia Military Institute, earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and went on to complete the Army Ranger School before joining the elite Special Forces, known as the Green Berets. These troops specialize in demolition, guerrilla warfare, urban combat, and operations in challenging environments like mountains.

Waltz served in the U.S. Army for nearly 26 years, completing missions in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa as part of the Special Forces. Notably, in 2009, he led the search for U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

A firm advocate for keeping U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Waltz criticized President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw in 2021, which he argued led to the deaths of service members. He called for accountability for the chaotic withdrawal. During his military service, Waltz earned four Bronze Stars, including two for bravery.

Political Career

Michael Waltz worked as a political advisor at the U.S. Department of Defense under Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates during the presidency of George W. Bush (2001–2009).

He also served as a colonel in the U.S. National Guard, balancing both combat and political roles. He also held the position of counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney in the White House.

In 2018, Waltz was elected to Congress, representing Florida’s 6th Congressional District. He became the first Special Forces officer elected to this legislative body. He chaired the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Readiness and was a member of both the Foreign Affairs and Permanent Intelligence Committees.

Anti-China Stance

Waltz is among the most hardline members of Congress on China, often stating, “We are in a Cold War with the Chinese Communist Party.”

In 2021, he was the first congressman to call for a full U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, citing China’s alleged genocide of Uyghur Muslims, its enslavement of other ethnic minorities, and its use of forced labor in concentration camps.

In 2020, Waltz was the driving force behind a law aimed at securing U.S. universities from Chinese espionage. Known as the Waltz Act, it mandates that researchers disclose foreign funding sources when applying for federal grants. Any involvement with China would result in the termination and banning of students, professors, or academics, with criminal charges related to national security threats.

He also directed the Department of Defense to track foreign talent recruitment programs that pose a threat to U.S. security, with China specifically called out. Waltz has repeatedly called for the U.S. to shift its focus from Europe and the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific region to address the “greater threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.”

Ukraine and ‘Israel’

Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, in 2022, Waltz called on President Biden’s administration to provide additional weapons to Ukraine to help it repel the Russian invasion.

However, by 2024, his stance on Russia softened, and he voted against multiple bills supported by the Democratic Party to continue providing Ukraine with military and financial aid.

During election night on November 5, 2024, Waltz discussed President Trump's approach to ending the war in Ukraine, suggesting economic and diplomatic solutions while dismissing the option of military support.

In contrast, Waltz has been a staunch supporter of “Israel” and a strong advocate for Donald Trump’s policies concerning “Israel's security.” 

He said in a September Fox News interview that a ceasefire and “hostage” release deal would not end “the conflict.”

“Iran will continue to stoke unrest because they want to destroy Israel,” Waltz said. “Making concession after concession to Iran is actually what is destabilizing the situation.”

Waltz is among the strongest supporters of “Israel’s” right-wing government under Benjamin Netanyahu, believing that both the current and future U.S. administrations should always back Netanyahu for his deep understanding of “Israel’s adversaries.” He believes “Israel” should be allowed to eliminate Hamas once and for all.

Waltz’s Extremist Views

In 2017, Waltz delivered a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual event attended by conservative activists and elected officials across the U.S., organized by the American Conservative Union (ACU).

“We are in a war of ideas and we are fighting an ideology. It is easy to bomb a tank, but incredibly difficult to bomb an idea,” he said during the speech. 

“We need a long-term strategy that discredits the ideology of Islamic extremism, we are in a multi-decade war and we are only 15 years in [referring to the September 11, 2001 attacks].”

Despite his alignment with the American right and being a conservative Christian, Waltz voted on July 19, 2022, alongside 46 other Republican representatives in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which would federally legalize same-sex marriage.

Waltz’s military experience and political career also led him to author two books: The Warrior Diplomat: Green Beret Battles from Washington to Afghanistan and The Dawn of the Brave, a Christian (Catholic) book aimed at teaching children the importance of military service.