President Donald Trump has asked U.S. Representative Mike Waltz, a retired Army National Guard officer and combat veteran, to serve as his National Security Adviser. The position, which does not require Senate confirmation, places Waltz at the center of handling several pressing global security challenges, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, tensions with China, and the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Waltz’s Role and Policy Stance Waltz, a three-term Republican congressman from Florida, is known for his hawkish stance on China and Iran. He has been a sharp critic of the Biden administration’s national security strategy, including the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and handling of Chinese espionage. Waltz has pushed for a tougher U.S. approach to counter China’s influence, calling for a boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights violations and concerns around COVID-19 origins. As chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Intelligence Committee, Waltz has advocated for increased military readiness and reduced focus on diversity and equity initiatives in the armed forces. “I am ready to get to work to better equip our military and turn our focus away from woke priorities and back to winning wars. Our national security depends on it,” Waltz said previously in a statement. Reacting to reports of Waltz's selection, Richard Goldberg, a former National Security Council official in Trump’s first term, said, With fires raging across the world right now, Waltz is well positioned to help the President put out those fires. Personal Life and Military Background Waltz was the first Green Beret elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. His military honors include four Bronze Stars, two of which were awarded for valor. Before his congressional career, he served as a policy adviser to Defense Secretaries Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates. He is married to Dr. Julia Nesheiwat, who previously served as Homeland Security Adviser under Trump. House Concerns and Broader Appointments Waltz’s appointment has raised concerns among some House Republicans due to the narrow GOP majority. His departure would trigger a special election to fill his congressional seat. Despite that, his close alignment with Trump and foreign policy experience appear to have weighed heavily in the decision.