INTERNACIONAL
Hegseth, Signal questions dog Waltz as potentially perilous UN ambassador confirmation hearings loom
The same day that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz exited his job at the White House, President Donald Trump announced a new job offer for the former Florida congressman: United Nations ambassador.
But there are some hurdles Waltz must clear first before the New York job is his — including undergoing a Senate confirmation process amid scrutiny after the Atlantic magazine exposed a Signal group chat that his team had set up to discuss strikes against the Houthis in March.
And receiving full support from the slim Republican majority in the Senate isn’t guaranteed, and not all Republicans got on board backing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Vice President JD Vance ultimately cast the tie-breaking vote securing Hegseth’s nomination.
Democrats appear hungry to use Waltz’s nomination as a forum to air grievances against other foreign policy leaders in the Trump administration — particularly Hegseth.
NEXT US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR? HERE’S WHOM TRUMP MIGHT PICK TO REPLACE WALTZ
U.S. national security advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stand, as U.S. President Donald Trump meets French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House on Feb. 24, 2025. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
Still, Waltz’s nomination to represent the U.S. at the U.N. will likely attract support from establishment Republicans in the Senate who weren’t on board with Hegseth in the Pentagon, given that the ideological divide between these Republicans and Waltz is much smaller than it was in Hegseth’s case, according to one Florida GOP source.
«He’s been able to thread the needle really, really well between traditional conservative foreign policy voices and the more populist America First policy voices,» the Florida GOP source said of Waltz.
HEAT ON WALTZ
Waltz, who previously represented Florida’s 6th congressional district, is a retired Army National Guard colonel and former Green Beret who served four deployments to Afghanistan and earned four Bronze Stars — the fourth-highest military combat award, issued for heroic service against an armed enemy.
While Waltz and Hegseth both were embroiled in the Signal chat discussing strike plans against the Houthis, Hegseth has attracted more of the heat, at least publicly, stemming from the incident. Democrats have called for Hegseth’s resignation as a result of the chat, but staffers at the White House — including Waltz — have openly backed Hegseth and shut down reports that the administration is seeking his replacement.
But Waltz could get his turn attracting the ire of lawmakers as Democrats find an opportunity to openly grill him in front of the Senate, amid displeasure with Trump’s foreign policy and national security agenda.
«The second hundred days of national security under President Trump will apparently be just as chaotic as the first hundred,» Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said in a statement to Fox News Digital about Waltz’s departure from the White House.
«President Trump’s consistent hirings, firings and upheaval sap morale from our warfighters and intelligence officers, degrade our military readiness, and leave us less prepared to respond to threats from our adversaries,» Coons said. «American citizens at home and around the world are less safe because of President Trump’s non-existent national security strategy.»
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., also took aim at Waltz — although she labeled Hegseth the worst offender affiliated with «Signalgate.»
MIKE WALTZ, OTHER NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFFERS OUT IN LATEST TRUMP PURGE FOLLOWING SIGNAL CHAT LEAK
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., also took aim at former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz — although she labeled Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth the worst offender affiliated with «Signalgate.» (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
«Took them long enough. Mike Waltz knowingly made an unclassified chain to discuss classified matters,» Duckworth said in a Thursday X post ahead of Waltz’s U.N. ambassador nomination. «But of all the idiots in that chat, Hegseth is the biggest security risk of all—he leaked the info that put our troops in greater danger. Fire and investigate them all.»
In addition to the Signal chat, Waltz’s exit from the White House was tied to several other issues. For example, Axios reports that Waltz treated White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles like «staff,» and his disrespect rubbed her the wrong way.
«He treated her like staff and didn’t realize he’s the staff, she’s the embodiment of the president,» a White House official told Axios. «Susie is a deeply loyal person and the disrespect was made all the worse because it was disloyal.»
Waltz reportedly discussed different roles he could take on following his stint at the White House with Wiles, according to CBS News. Waltz was reportedly offered jobs, including the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, but ultimately settled on U.N. ambassador.
A spokesperson for the National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
NEXT STEPS
With Waltz out as national security advisor, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will temporarily step into that role.
While Trump originally nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., to represent the U.S. at the U.N., he rescinded her nomination in March, citing that the House could not afford to lose another Republican seat.
Stefanik’s nomination lagged in the Senate in comparison to other U.N. ambassador nominees, including Trump’s first U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The Senate confirmed Haley in January, just after Trump’s first inauguration.
While the exact timeline for a potential confirmation vote in the Senate is unclear, the first hurdle that Waltz must clear is a confirmation vote out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Although it is uncertain when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will schedule the nomination hearing for Waltz and the subsequent vote, the committee said his nomination is a «priority.»
«The committee has been working at a historically fast pace and this nomination will be a priority moving forward,» a GOP staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., meets with Republican Sen. John Barasso of Wyoming. (Office of Rep. Elise Stefanik)
The 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly is scheduled for September 9, so there are a few months for Waltz’s confirmation to play out, the Florida GOP source said. That means that Waltz could take a few months off, start the confirmation process in June or July and wrap up his confirmation by September at the latest, the source said.
«He’s got plenty of time. So, this isn’t a looming fight that’s going to happen next week,» the Florida GOP source said. «This is going to play out probably in June or July, which by then, people are going to forget about the Signalgate stuff, or at the very, very least, they’re going to forget about Mike Waltz’s role in it.»
But there are a few Republican wildcards in the Senate who have voted against several of Trump’s nominees, most prominently Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who voted against Hegseth, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., voted against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in January. (J. Scott Applewhite/the Associated Press)
A spokesperson for McConnell did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Other Republicans who have opposed Trump nominees include Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, both of whom voted against Hegseth, as well as Sens. Ted Budd of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky, both of whom voted against Chavez-DeRemer.
Aside from former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., whom Trump initially nominated to serve as attorney general, Trump’s entire cabinet has been approved. Gaetz withdrew his nomination amid a House Ethics Committee investigation into sexual misconduct and drug-use allegations.
Despite opposition from Democrats, and possibly a few Republicans, it appears unlikely that any fire that Waltz will face will sink his nomination.
«The reality of it is, the president can lose three votes in the Senate, and the vice president can still vote to break a tie,» the Florida GOP source said. «There’s no way he’s probably going to lose three votes.»
Meanwhile, other Republicans have openly stated they endorse Waltz’s nomination, including Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Risch, R-Idaho, who lauded Trump’s decision to nominate Waltz for the role.
Vice President JD Vance sits for an interview with Fox News’ chief political anchor Bret Baier in South Carolina, where he addressed Waltz’s nomination to represent the U.S. at the United Nations. (Fox News/Special Report)
«Great choices. America is safer and stronger under President Trump and his national security team,» Risch said in a Thursday X post. «I thank Mike Waltz for his service as NSA, and look forward to taking up his nomination in our committee.»
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also posted on X on Friday that Waltz would be confirmed «for sure.»
Vance also voiced support for Waltz and billed the nomination as a «promotion,» pushing back on any suggestions that Waltz’s removal amounted to a firing.
«Donald Trump has fired a lot of people,» Vance said in an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier Thursday. «He doesn’t give them Senate-confirmed appointments afterward. What he thinks is that Mike Waltz is going to better serve the administration, most importantly, the American people in that role.»
Fox News’ Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
White House,Pete Hegseth,U.S. Defense & Military Politics,Secretary of Defense,Donald Trump
INTERNACIONAL
Zelensky se reúne en Londres con la Coalición de Voluntarios para reforzar apoyo militar a Ucrania y aumentar la presión sobre Rusia
El presidente de Ucrania, Volodimir Zelensky, participa este viernes en Londres en una reunión de la Coalición de Voluntarios, formada sobre todo por países europeos, para analizar cómo reforzar el apoyo militar y económico a Ucrania y aumentar la presión sobre Rusia para poner fin a la guerra.
El primer ministro británico, Keir Starmer, presidirá la cita presencial y telemática en el Ministerio de Exteriores, a la que también asistirán en persona los primeros ministros de Dinamarca, Mette Frederiksen, y Países Bajos, Dick Schoof, así como el secretario general de la OTAN, Mark Rutte, mientras que otros veinte líderes se unirán a distancia.
Starmer urgirá a los socios a tomar medidas para eliminar el petróleo y el gas rusos del mercado, usar los activos rusos confiscados para financiar la defensa ucraniana y enviar armamento de largo alcance, según un comunicado difundido por Downing Street.
El líder laborista afirmó que “el único que no quiere detener la guerra es Putin” y añadió: “Una y otra vez le ofrecemos la oportunidad de poner fin a su invasión innecesaria, detener las matanzas y retirar las tropas, pero él rechaza repetidamente estas propuestas y cualquier posibilidad de paz”.
La Coalición, creada en marzo pasado por el Reino Unido y Francia para coordinar la ayuda a Ucrania y planear su seguridad tras la guerra, usará esta reunión para «fijar prioridades prácticas de cara al invierno“, ante la intensificación de los ataques rusos contra objetivos civiles e infraestructuras críticas.
El Gobierno británico aprovechará la cita para anunciar la entrega anticipada de 140 misiles ligeros multirrol a Kiev, dentro de un contrato de 1.600 millones de libras (1.800 millones de euros) suscrito en marzo que contempla un total de más de 5.000 unidades. Starmer también dijo que se acelerará un programa de fabricación de misiles de defensa aérea, con el objetivo de suministrar más de 5.000 armas.
La reunión se produce después de que Estados Unidos anunciara el miércoles sanciones contra las petroleras rusas Rosneft y Lukoil, “ante la falta de compromiso de Rusia con un proceso de paz”.
Por su parte, la Unión Europea aprobó el jueves el decimonoveno paquete de sanciones contra Rusia, que avanza a 2027, un año antes de lo previsto, incluyendo el veto al transporte del gas natural licuado (GNL).
Starmer instó a aprovechar “el acto decisivo” del presidente estadounidense, Donald Trump, al sancionar a Moscú, y “aumentar la presión sobre Rusia para que se siente a negociar”. Por su parte, Zelensky ha solicitado durante semanas más armas de largo alcance, esperando capitalizar la creciente presión de Trump sobre Putin, tras un reciente viaje a Washington en el que no logró obtener misiles Tomahawk, pese a sus múltiples pedidos.
El Reino Unido y Francia ya suministran a Ucrania misiles Storm Shadow y Scalp, mientras que Ucrania produce sus propios misiles Flamingo y Neptuno. Kiev también ha mostrado interés en los misiles alemanes Taurus, aunque Berlín ha resistido debido a posibles tensiones con Rusia.
Zelensky también destacó la importancia de financiar la defensa ucraniana a largo plazo. La UE encargó a la Comisión Europea que avance con opciones para financiar Ucrania durante dos años, dejando abierta la posibilidad de un préstamo de 140.000 millones de euros respaldado por activos rusos congelados.
El presidente del Consejo Europeo, Antonio Costa, afirmó que el bloque “se compromete a asegurar que las necesidades financieras de Ucrania estarán cubiertas durante los próximos dos años” y advirtió a Rusia: “Ucrania tendrá los recursos financieros que necesita para defenderse”.
La cita de Londres busca fortalecer la cooperación internacional y coordinar la entrega de armamento, sanciones económicas y apoyo financiero para Ucrania, en un momento en que la guerra entra en su cuarto invierno y Moscú continúa atacando infraestructuras críticas del país con misiles y drones.
(Con información de AFP, EFE y EP)
Europe,Military Conflicts
INTERNACIONAL
Winsome Sears blasts Virginia Dems’ surprise redistricting session as a ‘stunt’ to pull her off the trail
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears lambasted Virginia Democrats after they signaled a plan to suddenly call the legislature back in a last-minute special session to address potential redistricting before the election.
Virginia’s state redistricting commission is statutorily charged with crafting new congressional maps after every decennial census, but state Democrats appear poised to try to do an end-round around that process, potentially via the constitutional amendment process.
«In a desperate political stunt, Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly are calling for a special session to drag Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears off the campaign trail,» the Earle-Sears campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
NEW POLL IN KEY SHOWDOWN FOR VIRGINIA GOVERNOR INDICATES SINGLE-DIGIT RACE
As lieutenant governor, Earle-Sears is the presiding officer over the otherwise Democratic-majority state Senate.
«The same politicians who marched in ‘No Kings’ protests are now trying to crown themselves as the rulers of Virginia politics, abusing their offices to rig the calendar because they can’t win on ideas,» the campaign said.
Earle-Sears spokesperson Peyton Vogel said the activity is «what panic looks like» for a party that is out of fresh ideas and is relying on such «stunts,» and suggested Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger – a former congresswoman – was in some way involved in the plan.
«[S]he’s leading the charge on cheap political stunts to slow down Winsome Earle-Sears’ momentum. It’s pathetic. Voters see through it. They know Winsome Earle-Sears is a Marine, a mom, and a fighter for Virginia every day — while Abigail Spanberger is a career politician using Washington-style dirty tricks to protect her power and her friends,» Vogel said.
EARLE-SEARS COMES OUT SWINGING IN HEATED DEBATE AS SPANBERGER DODGES JAY JONES QUESTIONS
A Suffolk University poll released Thursday showed Earle-Sears trailing Spanberger by about eight percentage points, while her downballot-mates John Reid and Jason Miyares were either tied or just ahead of their Democratic opponents.
Democrats are hoping to expand their two-seat majority in the House of Delegates, targeting several districts in the suburbs and exurbs of Hampton Roads and Washington, D.C., where Republicans sit on a statistical knife’s edge. No state Senate seats are up until 2027. The upper chamber also has a two-seat Democratic majority.
House Speaker Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Mount Vernon, did not respond to requests for comment. However, Surovell told the New York Times that plans to reconvene the legislature in Richmond next week are intended to counter President Donald Trump’s push to pressure Republican-led states on redistricting.
Those states, like Texas, see their efforts as blunting California Democrats’ likely-successful shoehorning of a mid-decade redistricting plan through Sacramento.
VIRGINIA VOTERS SUE TO BOOT DEMOCRAT OFF BALLOT IN DISTRICT THAT COULD DECIDE STATE HOUSE MAJORITY
«We are coming back to address actions by the Trump administration,» Surovell told the Times.
On the federal level, Democrats hold six of the 11 House seats in Virginia. Some of those held by Republicans are often considered «swing» seats that volley back and forth regularly – like that of Rep. Jennifer Kiggans in Cape Charles and Hampton Roads.
Loudoun County – once reliably Republican – has trended far to the left in the past decade, and there is no longer any Republican congressperson within about 50 miles of Washington.
Rep. Yevgeny «Eugene» Vindman, D-Va., twin brother of Alexander Vindman, holds a once-swing district in Prince William County and the D.C. exurbs that has been another long-term loss for the GOP.
WINSOME EARLE-SEARS REBUKES SPANBERGER PLAN TO UNDO VIRGINIA’S ICE PACT: ‘THIS IS NOT HARD’
The Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
By contrast, Rep. Morgan Griffith’s, R-Va., district in the far southwestern end of Virginia is solidly Republican. The way neighboring Rep. Ben Cline’s district is drawn – hugging Interstate 81 and the Blue Ridge Mountains – also remains so.
But Cline’s district could be one targeted by Democrats’ redraw – as slicing up the slender district and the top of Republican John McGuire’s confines and affixing the pieces to the increasingly blue center of the state could create several new seats designed in Democrats’ favor.
Toying with the shapes of other districts like Vindman’s along I-95 and Republican Rep. Rob Wittman in the Northern Neck could also bear fruit for Democrats.
Democrats were the ones to primarily spearhead the original constitutional amendment in 2020 that birthed the commission they now want to circumvent, as it had been introduced by then-Sen. George Barker of Fairfax. Some Republicans were listed as co-signers for the resolution as well.
SPANBERGER DEFENDS ABORTION AD CRITICIZING SEARS AFTER BERNIE WARNS AGAINST HIGHLIGHTING ISSUE
The amendment was later approved by about two-thirds of Virginia voters, according to reports.
If they go the constitutional amendment route, passage before November’s election would count as one session, so Democrats – betting on holding or increasing their numbers in the legislature – would have to pass it once more in the 2026 session before it made the ballot after passage.
Whether Earle-Sears or Spanberger wins, the governor is constitutionally precluded from intervening in the process.
Working through the regular legislative process would, by contrast, allow a governor to intervene; with the outgoing Youngkin primed to veto their initial attempt.
Pennsylvania Republicans led by 2022 gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano enlisted the same process to circumvent then-Gov. Tom Wolf and end his onerous coronavirus lockdown orders, so the process has seen recent success.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The Virginia amendment would not likely create a new map, but instead authorize a new process to commence redistricting outside the current system with the decennial commission.
Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger for comment on Earle-Sears’ claim.
virginia governor race,virginia,elections,elections state and local
Inundaciones y vientos huracanados
Transportes y rutas afectados
Un puerto cerrado en Le Havre, Francia, por la feroz tormenta Benjamin, este jueves. Foto: AFP «¿Bomba meteorológica?»
El Chino Leunis reveló el calvario que vive en MasterChef Celebrity: por qué quiere abandonar
Zelensky se reúne en Londres con la Coalición de Voluntarios para reforzar apoyo militar a Ucrania y aumentar la presión sobre Rusia
Virginia Gallardo hizo un posteo sobre Ricardo Fort y el abogado de sus hijos la acusó de “usar su imagen políticamente”
A horas de la veda, Cristina Kirchner llamó a votar contra el Gobierno: “El proyecto libertario fracasó y lo saben”
Shell vende sus estaciones en Argentina: aumentan los nombres en competencia y así están las ofertas
El día que Cesc Fàbregas le marcó al Barça con la pierna rota: ‘La adrenalina fluía por mí con tanta fuerza que no sentí dolor’
Donald Trump habló sobre la ayuda económica de Estados Unidos: “La Argentina está peleando por su vida”
Pampita recibió un video inesperado de su hija Blanca en el Día de la Madre y no pudo contener la emoción
Universidad de Chile vs. Lanús, por la Copa Sudamericana: día, horario y cómo verlo por TV
Adabel Guerrero confesó de qué famosa está enamorada y que le encantaría tener relaciones: «La China Suárez me sorprendió con su belleza»
DEPORTE2 días agoUniversidad de Chile vs. Lanús, por la Copa Sudamericana: día, horario y cómo verlo por TV
- CHIMENTOS2 días ago
Adabel Guerrero confesó de qué famosa está enamorada y que le encantaría tener relaciones: «La China Suárez me sorprendió con su belleza»
- ECONOMIA3 días ago
Scott Bessent oficializó el swap con la Argentina y afirmó: “No queremos otro Estado fallido en América Latina”
