BLACK mobile logo

united states

Mike Waltz grilled over Signal leak at UN ambassador hearing

July 15, 2025

Former national security adviser Mike Waltz appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee seeking confirmation as Trump's nominee for UN ambassador, where he faced scrutiny over his role in a Signal group chat that accidentally included a journalist during discussions of a military strike on Houthi rebels. Democrats questioned Waltz about the security breach nicknamed "Signalgate," while he maintained no classified information was shared and argued that Signal use was recommended by cybersecurity agencies. Republicans largely avoided the Signal controversy, instead focusing on UN funding and China's influence, with Waltz suggesting reviews of various UN climate programs to ensure proper use of US taxpayer dollars.

Who is affected

  • Mike Waltz (former national security adviser and UN ambassador nominee)
  • The Senate Foreign Relations Committee
  • US government officials included in the Signal chat (Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other administration officials)
  • Jeffrey Goldberg (editor-in-chief of the Atlantic magazine who was accidentally included)
  • US taxpayers (whose funding to UN organizations was discussed)

What action is being taken

  • The Senate is conducting confirmation hearings for Waltz's nomination as UN ambassador
  • The White House has conducted an investigation into the Signal incident
  • The Department of Defence is still conducting an investigation regarding the incident
  • Waltz is defending his use of Signal as recommended by cybersecurity authorities
  • Democrats are questioning Waltz about security practices while Republicans focus on UN funding priorities

Why it matters

  • The incident exposed potential security vulnerabilities in high-level government communications
  • Waltz's nomination comes during international uncertainty about America's role on the world stage
  • The position would represent US interests abroad at a critical time when the Trump administration has cut billions in foreign aid and fired thousands of staffers at the State Department and USAID
  • The confirmation has implications for US approach to international organizations and climate-focused entities
  • The incident highlights divisions between political parties on prioritizing national security concerns versus funding reviews

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC

Mike Waltz grilled over Signal leak at UN ambassador hearing