In one of the most significant appointments yet for the upcoming administration, President-elect Donald Trump has selected Congressman Mike Waltz from Florida to serve as his National Security Adviser. 

Waltz, a retired Army colonel and former Green Beret, has represented Florida in the US House of Representatives since 2019 and is co-chair of the influential India Caucus.

He has been an outspoken critic of President Joe Biden's foreign policy, particularly the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan. He is a current member of the House Armed Services Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, and House Intelligence Committee, giving him a strong background in defense and national security. 

Waltz has urged European nations to increase support for Ukraine while advocating for the US to be more cautious.

He has also applauded Trump's pressure on NATO allies to increase defense spending but diverges from Trump on one key point, Waltz has not supported the US withdrawing from the alliance.

Known for his tough stance on China, Waltz is a member of the Republican China Task Force and has argued that the US military is underprepared for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. 

He had previously expressed interest in joining the administration and was considered a candidate for Secretary of Defense. However, Waltz’s role as national security adviser does not require Senate confirmation.

Other appointments 

In addition to Waltz’s appointment, Trump has announced several other senior members of his administration, including Susan Wiles as the first female White House Chief of Staff, Stephen Miller as a senior adviser, Tom Homan as "border czar," Elise Stefanik as US Ambassador to the United Nations, and Lee Zeldin as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Miller, a known critic of the H-1B visa program, has also returned to the administration in an influential role.

These swift appointments reflect Trump's commitment to assembling a leadership team quickly, as he prepares to begin his second term.