Chethana Janith, Jadetimes Staff
C. Janith is a Jadetimes news reporter covering science and geopolitics.
Florida lawmaker and military veteran Michael Waltz has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump as his next national security adviser. In this key role, Waltz will advise Trump on the U.S. response to international threats.
In addition, sources say Senator Marco Rubio is being considered for secretary of state, although this choice hasn't been confirmed yet.
Trump also announced on Tuesday that he wants South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem to take on a significant position as homeland security secretary.
Following his election win, Trump’s administration is starting to take shape. Republicans are also close to gaining full control of Congress, having won back the Senate and moving toward a majority in the House.
While some roles, such as secretary of state, need Senate approval, Trump has urged the Senate leadership to streamline this process. Other positions, like national security adviser, do not require Senate confirmation and can be directly appointed by the president-elect.
Trump praised Waltz as an “expert on threats from China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism” and called him a “strong champion” of his America First policy.
These selections come after Trump appointed Susie Wiles as his chief of staff, named former immigration official Tom Homan as his “border czar,” and nominated Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as his future ambassador to the United Nations.
A president-elect is responsible for filling around 4,000 political roles, and in his first term, Trump’s cabinet took months to assemble.
Rubio - known for his strong stance on foreign policy
It’s not yet confirmed whether 53-year-old Marco Rubio will be nominated as secretary of state, America's top diplomatic role, but his career has prepared him for the position.
Several U.S. media sources report that Rubio is in discussions with Trump’s transition team for the role, though a final decision hasn’t been made and could still change.
Rubio is currently the vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. He is known as a foreign policy "hawk," taking a hard stance on issues like Iran and China.
While supporting Ukraine, he has previously expressed the need for a resolution to its conflict with Russia.
In 2016, Rubio and Trump were fierce rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, clashing over several issues, including immigration. Their rivalry led to various public insults, with Trump calling Rubio “little Marco” and Rubio mocking Trump’s "small hands."
Despite their past differences, Rubio endorsed Trump and supported his campaign ahead of the 2024 election. He was also considered as a possible running mate, a role that eventually went to JD Vance, who shares Rubio’s tough stance on China.
Rubio, born to working-class Cuban immigrant parents, first joined the Senate in 2010.
Waltz - soldier turned congressman
Waltz, 50, a military veteran and long-time Trump supporter, was re-elected to Congress last week. He has now been appointed as national security adviser, a role focused on identifying and countering threats to the U.S. This position doesn’t need Senate approval.
A decorated Green Beret, Waltz served multiple tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. In his book, *Warrior Diplomat*, he shares his experiences in the Pentagon under President George W. Bush and his time in combat.
Like Rubio, Waltz has taken a firm stance on China. As chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, he has emphasized the need for the U.S. to be prepared for possible conflicts in the Pacific.
He has also supported U.S. aid to Ukraine but recently called for a reassessment of spending on the war effort. Waltz has urged NATO allies to increase their defense spending, although he hasn’t gone as far as Trump, who has suggested the U.S. might consider leaving the alliance.
"Look, we can be allies and friends and still have tough conversations," Waltz said last month.
Since the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, Waltz has been a frequent critic of President Biden and the current administration. He is the second member of Congress to be asked to serve in Trump’s upcoming administration, which would require him to step down from his position in the House.
This could impact the Republicans if they hold a narrow majority in the House, as his resignation would reduce their margin until a replacement is elected.
Waltz will be Trump’s fifth national security adviser. In his first term, Trump appointed four others, dismissing three: Michael Flynn, HR McMaster, and John Bolton, the latter of whom actively opposed Trump in the 2024 election.
Noem - South Dakota native and farmer
If confirmed, Noem, 52, would play a central role in overseeing U.S. security, including border protection, cyber threats, terrorism, and emergency response.
With a $62 billion budget and thousands of employees, her agency would work closely with Homan and Stephen Miller, who handles policy, to fulfill Trump’s immigration goals.
Noem was passed over as Trump’s running mate partly due to a strange admission that she once killed her pet dog.
After leaving college at 22 to manage her family farm, Noem became South Dakota’s first female governor in 2018.
Trump reportedly once told Noem he’d like his face added to Mount Rushmore, the monument to past presidents in her home state. Instead, she gave him a 4-foot replica with his face alongside Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln.
