Donald Trump has asked Florida congressman Mike Waltz to be his national security adviser, in a move that would make the decorated military veteran, Nato critic and China hawk among the most powerful people in the White House, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Waltz, 50, is a retired Army Special Forces officer who served several tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. A loyal ally of Trump and vocal critic of US President Joe Biden, he was first elected to Congress in 2018.
The national security adviser is among the most influential figures in any White House. If he takes up the post, Waltz will be a central figure in shaping US foreign policy, including the incoming Trump administration’s positions on the war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East.