▶ 0:17:46Chair Risch: Come to order. This morning we want to welcome all of our guests here. Remind everyone for those who haven't been here before, love having you. This is a professional meeting of the united states congress. We have a zero-tolerance policy on interruptions or attempts to communicate with either members of the committee or processes before the committee. We have unfortunately had people who don't follow that too well.
▶ 0:18:15Chair Risch: I will have them arrested, removed, and they will be banned for a year from the committee. We have some people suffering from that right now. In any event, we welcome you all, though, and welcome your watching of the proceeding. With that, we have nominations today for michael waltz to beat united states and vassar to united nations and also represent the united states at the u.n.
▶ 0:18:43Chair Risch: General assembly and security council. Christine toretti, U.S. ambassador to sarid and. John arrigo to be the U.S. ambassador to portugal. We have a few members of the committee to introduce members. I will start with senator graham. I know the you always have a full dance schedule of things to do, so, I would recognize you. Welcome to the committee, senator. Welcome back to the committee.
▶ 0:19:13Sen. Graham: Thank you. You have a lot going on. Thank you, Mr. chairman. I am proud to you john arrigo. He wants to be the ambassador to portugal and the people in portugal would be lucky to have them because there is no closer friend to donald trump than john arrigo.
▶ 0:19:37Sen. Graham: If you are a country you want someone who is the investor to the united states who has a line to president trump, or any other president, and he does. He was born in chicago and attended palm beach state college where he graduated in 1994. The grandson of an italian immigrant who arrived in the united states at age 16 with six dollars in his pocket. Adjusted for inflation I don't know what that would be today, but not much.
▶ 0:20:07Sen. Graham: So, from six dollars to being one of the leading automotive dealers in the country is quite a journey. He is a generous man. He helps so many people. He literally lived the american dream. You would find him and his family's story. One of the most successful chrysler, dodge, ram, jeep dealerships in the country. He has been living in florida running his business for the last 40 six years.
▶ 0:20:37Sen. Graham: Again, he is a very generous man , close to the president. His wife megan is here, alicia, amanda, his beautiful dollars, son-in-law nathaniel, his wife's family is connected to portugal. That is how he has chosen to serve there.
▶ 0:21:02Sen. Graham: He spends a lot of time there and he wants to deepen ties between us and portugal, and nato member and a strategic part of the world. He and his brother are big supporters of the clemson tigers, which goes a long way where I live. I have come to enjoy my time with john. He is a very good golfer. If he gets confirmed, I'm sure he can set you up with a teatime.
▶ 0:21:28Sen. Graham: The main thing for me and the reason I wanted to do this, I've known him for many years, quite frankly, playing golf with the president and talking about business and the world, and he wants to serve. A man who came to this country with $16 in his pocket has done extraordinarily well. He wants to give back. I think this is a great way for the arrigo family to give back to america. I recommend his nomination and thank you, Mr.
▶ 0:21:57Sen. Graham: Chairman, for having me. It's short.
▶ 0:22:00Chair Risch: From the beginning to the end of your speech, Mr. arrigo increased his pocket change from six dollars to $16. Thank you, senator graham. I know that you have other things to do. Senator lee.
▶ 0:22:22Sen. Lee: Thank you, Mr. chairman. It is an honor and a pleasure to introduce my friend the next ambassador from the united states to the united nations, michael waltz. Many of us are familiar with his background. His qualifications are such they make him one of the most well qualified U.S.
▶ 0:22:49Sen. Lee: Ambassador nominees to the united nations ever. This bears repeating. Mr. waltz is a retired army colonel, a green beret, combat veteran, the recipient of four bronze stars across his military career spanning three decades.
▶ 0:23:12Sen. Lee: He was a policy director for two secretaries of defense and a three-term congressman from florida's sixth congressional district, where he served on the committees for foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services. Chairing the subcommittee on readiness. It was in that capacity where I started to get to know him better. A few years ago, as he and I were working together on an effort to bring back a U.S.
▶ 0:23:38Sen. Lee: Navy officer who had been imprisoned in a foreign country. We got that done in large measure because of his great work. Beyond the committee assignments, he served on a ton of tasks -- task force producing over 400 recommendations for managing the delicate relationship between the united states and china.
▶ 0:24:02Sen. Lee: He helped unleash the president's america first peace through strength policy agenda that included a truce in the middle east through delicate negotiations, pretending to the ongoing conflict in ukraine.
▶ 0:24:20Sen. Lee: He is a skilled negotiator with a track record of diligently pursuing american interests unapologetically with the appropriate amount of caution and attention to detail. That is the type of policy leadership badly needed at the united nations in this point in history. The U.S., frankly, has some legitimate concerns about the you win to be perfectly frank, the u.n.
▶ 0:24:51Sen. Lee: Is in many respects a disaster, a detriment to U.S. interests. Where the U.S. is shouldering the financial burden of an international body, only to be on the losing side of so many votes and so many policy decisions that are made at the u.n. This cannot continue. The president is absolutely correct in his decision to pause our contributions to review U.S. participation in the bloated system and entrust mike waltz with writing the ship from the inside.
▶ 0:25:21Sen. Lee: With waltz at the helm, the U.S. will have what could and should be at the last chance to demonstrate its actual value to the united states. Instead of progressive political virtue signaling, the security council has a chance to prove its value in settling disputes and brokering deals.
▶ 0:25:42Sen. Lee: With an overhaul bloated and peacekeeping missions or we can counter chinese influence and end u.n. Sponsorship of terrorism and anti-semitism, standing by our allies, including israel. Above all come the U.S. must ensure that every four an dollar and every contribution to an international organization, particularly the u.n., draws a strict and direct line to a compelling U.S.
▶ 0:26:11Sen. Lee: National interest, one that puts america first, not last. I have every confidence that mike waltz is exactly the person who will faithfully apply this standard to the u.n. Byzantine labyrinth and carefully scrutinize our position in the financing of u.n. Bodies, particularly those that have proven adverse to our interests.
▶ 0:26:39Sen. Lee: He is capable and ready, willing, and able to tackle this daunting challenge at the united nations. We need him at the u.n. We need him there now. I think he is the perfect man for this position. I look forward to his swift confirmation. He has my wholehearted support.
▶ 0:26:58Chair Risch: Thank you for those wise comments. Senator scott.
▶ 0:27:04Sen. Scott: It is an honor to introduce my friend, president trump spec for ambassador to the united nations, mike waltz. I want to recognize his family. You must be very proud of what mike has accomplished, and I'm glad you're here to support him. I've had the privilege of working with mike for many years. He was elected to the house and I was elected to the senate the same year and it was great to work alongside him with a lot of issues florida has dealt with.
▶ 0:27:33Sen. Scott: He was always a tireless advocate for freedom and democracy and the dangers that come from appeasing dictators. We worked to ensure nicolas maduro and putin could not benefit from hard-working americans' taxpayer dollars. I know as ambassador to the united nations he will bring that same commitment and love of liberty as an advocate for the american first principles that the american people elected donald trump the champion.
▶ 0:27:59Sen. Scott: He is a patriot from his time as a green beret to his time defending american ideals in congress. It has proven his love and dedication and willingness to sacrifice for our country. He has shown a willingness to make hard decisions, support his colleagues, and do what is right. He is a man of integrity and principle. He will exceed expectations. As senator lee said, we have a lot of issues with the united stations and I know that mike waltz will do the right thing.
▶ 0:28:27Sen. Scott: He has my support along with president trump and secretary rubio. I'm confident he will do an outstanding job representing america's interest to the united nations and I urge my colleagues to advance his nomination quickly. Good luck.
▶ 0:28:42Chair Risch: Appreciate those remarks. Senator mccormick will introduce christine toretti, however, he is traveling with the president and his home state and asked me to read the introduction. I am honored to do that. On behalf of senator mccormick, "committee colleagues, I'm sorry I can't be with you in person today as I welcome president trump to pittsburgh.
▶ 0:29:08Chair Risch: I'm grateful to the chairman for allowing a statement of appreciation and support for my friend, christine toretti, the nominee to be the ambassador to the kingdom of sweden. I met christine with my father who was the chancellor of the united states system of education she was a trustee. She has been a dear friend. As a business former chairman and ceo of a company come the largest privately held land-based drilling company in the united states.
▶ 0:29:37Chair Risch: She served as vice chairman of s and t bank corp. And a former director of the pittsburgh federal reserve bank. As a passionate philanthropist, christine has served on many nonprofit boards, including the international medical corp., the gettysburg foundation, and has dedicated energy to training programs designed to educate, empower, and advanced women.
▶ 0:30:01Chair Risch: Christine is an extraordinary force in politics, supporting candidates and party organizations at the local, state, and national levels. She serves as a national committee woman in pennsylvania and was previously the cochair of the rnc finance committee. One of the people I first consulted and relied on the most when I ran for senate. Most importantly she is the mother to three sons, joe, max, and matthew, the prime motivators for for her drive to provide a better future for america.
▶ 0:30:30Chair Risch: Her selflessness and political leadership make her an ideal nominee to lead in this important post, and I'm certain she will honorably represent president trump at the united states as our next ambassador in stockholm. I urge my colleagues to confirm the extraordinary pennsylvanian and american." good remarks. Christine, good to have you here. We are going to proceed now.
▶ 0:30:57Chair Risch: So everyone knows where we are going, I will give an opening statement and then I will yield to senator shaheen. After that, we will hear a five minute presentation. Hopefully we'll keep it to five minutes, or thereabouts. If you want to go beyond five, we have a lot of room in the record for published remarks. Feel free in that regard. After that, we will open it to a round of five-minute questions.
▶ 0:31:28Chair Risch: With that, I will proceed. Thank you again to our witnesses and your families for being here with us today and for your willingness and your family' is willingness to help you serve this country in such a pivotal time. Mr. waltz, you come with us with experience in congress, our nation's military, and the executive branch, which has been detailed this morning.
▶ 0:31:51Chair Risch: The experience has served you well as you will take the head -- as you take the lead at one of our most critical, diplomatic positions as ambassador to the united nations. The u.n. Is always a challenge and desperately needs reform, which we have been unable to accomplish so far. Your pragmatism and patriotism is sorely needed in new york, because as you know there is a lot of anti-american sentiment at the u.n.
▶ 0:32:19Chair Risch: Anti-semitism and anti-american sentiments are on the rise as are the influence of china and russia. You will be enjoyable to U.S. efforts to stand up to the authoritarian and communist axis that seeks to undermine the united states and our allies and ensure that our partners at the u.n. Take burden-jeering seriously.
▶ 0:32:37Chair Risch: The united states has been the largest most generous donor to the united nations since it was created 80 years ago, and today the united states still pays 22% of the u.n.'s regular budget and 25% of the peacekeeping budget even though we are one of 200 countries on the planet. America has been extremely generous but taken for granted, obviously. The U.S.
▶ 0:32:59Chair Risch: Cannot continue to accept the current inequitable financial arrangements where america pays a disproportional amount while others benefit from contributing to their fair share for peacekeeping operations, humanitarian aid, and good governance, and many times denigrate us. We must also eliminate the waste, fraud, and abuse that are endemic to the u.n. System.
▶ 0:33:23Chair Risch: From inflated procurement contracts to duplicated programs, to the misappropriation of humanitarian funds, and the deployment of personnel-sanctioned regimes. It's important that we get back to doing what the u.n. Was chartered to do. It has, what everyone knows, as mission creep and it happens every year.
▶ 0:33:44Chair Risch: The time has come to demand radical transparency and genuine reform that ensures that every american dollar serves its intended purpose of making america stronger, safer, and more prosperous. And return the wind to its core founding mandate of maintaining international peace and security. -- return the u.n. To its core founding mandate of maintaining international peace and security. Ms.
▶ 0:34:09Chair Risch: Toretti, the U.S.-swedish relationship has been built on years of diplomatic engagement, security, and cooperation. Sweden's entry into nato, something I worked hard on getting done, brought it's highly capable armed forces in the defense industrial base into the alliance and made us stronger and safer.
▶ 0:34:28Chair Risch: Sweden has always recognized its responsibility for its own defense and is deepening its commitment to our shared security by committing to nato's pledge to spend 5% of its gdp on defense. It's important that we help further deepen that integration into our alliance alongside our partners in europe. This is a critical time as china and russia are making designs on the arctic and contesting areas of shared U.S.-swedish interests.
▶ 0:34:57Chair Risch: As you know, sweden is on the front line of dangerous developments in the baltic sea from the sabotage of critical infrastructure to the reckless behavior of rush's shadow or you'll fleet an increasingly provocative russian military activity. And they sail merrily along. I look forward to hearing how you will help sweden defend against these threats. Mr.
▶ 0:35:21Chair Risch: Arrigo, portugal is an important ally of the united states and there are many opportunities for us to deepen cooperation. Portugal made commitments to increase spending in the U.S. must remain committed to ensuring that it reaches their goal. The U.S. must also work with portugal to invest in critical risks that it faces from heavy chinese investment.
▶ 0:35:44Chair Risch: China is working with our adversaries to undermine america and our allies, recently with its open commitment to support russia's war against ukraine. European allies like portugal must recognize the stress posed by china and address them accordingly. I hope you will carry that message to portugal. Senator shaheen?
▶ 0:36:03Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Welcome to each of our nominees, to your families and friends supporting you in this effort. Thank you for your willingness to serve and in this case, congressman waltz, to continue to serve the country. Yesterday this report was released on shine's growing influence at the expense of the united states.
▶ 0:36:30Sen. Shaheen: This report makes clear that this competition is one of our central geostrategic challenges. This is a competition that is deeply connected to our economy and to our lives at home. Whether combating unfair trade practices and ip theft or stopping the flow of fentanyl into our communities, protecting americans from spying and cyber attacks, or helping U.S. companies stay ahead in developing batteries for electric vehicles and ai, the stakes are very high.
▶ 0:37:01Sen. Shaheen: The threat to our prosperity and security is real. Unfortunately, instead of strength and focus we have seen this administration pulled back on a global scale. As the administration fires thousands of highly specialized nonpartisan experts and cuts america's diplomatic budget by 84%, china leads the world in diplomatic missions and is increasing its budget. The situation at the united nations is especially alarming.
▶ 0:37:32Sen. Shaheen: President trump has said that the u.n. Must return to its core mission of peace and security, but the administration is proposing to slash U.S. contributions to the u.n. And eliminate the entire u.n. Peacekeeping budget, increasing the likelihood that american soldiers will be sent into combat zones, and making china the largest u.n. Peacekeeping and financial contributor.
▶ 0:38:00Sen. Shaheen: The chinese communist party must be very pleased that our efforts. They continue making long-term investments at the united nations and international organizations not only through contributions but placing more chinese nationals in key roles. I urge you to take this threat seriously. I know that you do because you have served on the china commission. If we walk away from international bodies like the u.n., the result will not be reforms that advance american interests.
▶ 0:38:32Sen. Shaheen: The result will be international bodies become increasingly dependent on china, whether it involves technology and ai standards, global health, trade deals, or documenting human rights abuses in ukraine, china will be writing the rules. I don't think most americans wanted to live in a world where the chinese communist party is driving the agenda.
▶ 0:38:57Sen. Shaheen: There remains broad, bipartisan agreement that american leadership on the global stage is essential, particularly as china's expanding footprint threatens our safety and prosperity. That is why americans need a voice at the un security council and the international civil aviation organization which ensures that air spaces remain safe, the world food program which prevents famines and response to crises, the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons which works
▶ 0:39:28Sen. Shaheen: To eliminate these dangerous weapons, and the international atomic energy agency which helps reduce the threat of nuclear war . Put simply, we cannot shape these organizations or even push for the reforms that we want, unless we are at the table. Mr. waltz, if confirmed I hope that you will work with this committee to preserve america's ability to lead, compete, and shape the future on america's own terms. Mr. arrigo and Ms.
▶ 0:39:56Sen. Shaheen: Toretti, because the post has traditionally held cabinet level status my remarks focused on that role, but I look forward to hearing from each of you how you would advance america's interests in portugal and sweden. Thank you.
▶ 0:40:15Chair Risch: We will now hear from the nominees. We will start with Mr. a rrigo.
▶ 0:40:30Mr. Arrigo: Chairman risch, ranking member shaheen, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear as president trumps nominee to be the united states investor to the portuguese republic. I am grateful and honored by the confidence president trump and secretary rubio have placed in me. I'm blessed to have a wonderful and supportive family.
▶ 0:40:54Mr. Arrigo: My wife megan, my daughters alyssa, angelo, amanda, my brother jim, my sister virginia, my nephew freddy, my good friend pat, who just flew in this morning. Thank you, senator graham, for your gracious introduction. If confirmed, I plan to serve honorably to advance our core national interests, and always put america first.
▶ 0:41:19Mr. Arrigo: I have been a successful entrepreneur and business leader for over 30 years and my experiences have given me deep expertise in managing teams, negotiating complex issues, and most of all building relationships. I'm confident my business acumen over three decades will enable me to represent an advance U.S. interests effectively and carry out the mission president trump has entrusted to me.
▶ 0:41:47Mr. Arrigo: I am pleased to have this opportunity in large part due to my family and my beloved parents, joseph and francis. My father was the visionary leader behind my family business, which he established with my brother and eventually became one of the top auto groups in the country. As a family business we build our brand focused on employees, customer relationships, and not just a transaction, which are traits that I will carry into this next chapter.
▶ 0:42:16Mr. Arrigo: My desire to serve as ambassador and advance our core national interests are born from the recognition of how my family and I have been blessed by the privilege of being citizens of this great nation. Now, I have the opportunity to get back to my country. If confirmed, I will use all of the expertise I have developed to cultivate the relationship with portugal and make our nation stronger, safer, and more prosperous.
▶ 0:42:41Mr. Arrigo: Portugal is a founding member of nato and the second country to recognize american independence . Nearly 1.5 million portuguese-americans live in the united states developing a pro-american sentiment in portugal and fostering close bonds of friendship. I've had the honor of visiting the islands for a wedding a few years ago and was struck by the breathtaking natural beauty, the rich and diverse culinary traditions, and warm hospitality of the portuguese people.
▶ 0:43:12Mr. Arrigo: I was fascinated by the religious, cultural, and family values that resonate deep within my own italian heritage. The U.S. has turned to portugal for political and material support in many peacekeeping and peacemaking efforts throughout the years. They have always been an enthusiastic supporter of U.S. and nato operations around the world.
▶ 0:43:33Mr. Arrigo: Portugal's hosting of the 56th airbase group provided key logistics hub in the mid atlantic while providing critical support for aircraft, aircrews, and communication services to U.S. and nato allies. If confirmed, I promise to enhance this close, historic relationship in several key areas. My first objective will always be the safety and security of american citizens abroad.
▶ 0:44:03Mr. Arrigo: Tens of thousands of americans call portugal home. 2.6 million americans visited portugal last year, making the united states the third largest source of tourism in portugal. Second, I will strengthen particles contributions to nato to ensure that we can achieve peace in the region through strength. Although a trusted ally, portugal lags behind most nato countries by only 2% reaching this year.
▶ 0:44:30Mr. Arrigo: As ambassador, I will work with portugal to increased defense spending with the hague defense commitment of 5% and ensure that portugal does its fair share and contributes to more of europe's security. Finally, I will advocate for expanding our commercial ties with portugal and address the national security challenges posed by rivals like china. As the united states and portugal's largest trading partner outside of the eu, there is a significant potential to grow this economic relationship.
▶ 0:44:59Mr. Arrigo: I will work with portugal to address concerns about china's investment and influence in critical sectors to ensure our protection of our mutual economic and national security interests.
▶ 0:45:12Mr. Arrigo: If confirmed, I will also work to balance our trade relations, eliminating the trade deficit of over $3.5 billion with portugal, seeking more export opportunities for american businesses, emphasizing the fact that america is open for business. Mr. chairman, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
▶ 0:45:36Mr. Arrigo: I look forward to answering your questions and if confirmed working closely with all of you to strengthen our relationship with portugal and advance our core national interests. Thank you.
▶ 0:45:51Mr. Waltz: Thank you, chairman risch, ranking member ranking member shaheen. I want to thank my family, especially my wife, julia, herself a fellow combat veteran and accomplished diplomat. If confirmed you will definitely get double the bang for the taxpayer's buck.
▶ 0:46:16Mr. Waltz: I have my mother, brenda, here, who has been my rock and bootstrapped her way through life. My daughter anderson, a rising senior at uc bo senior at uc b boulder, and I spared the capitol police our three-year-old son, army, and his energy. I want to thank my fellow green beret, seagulls, veterans, and particularly the gold star families here today.
▶ 0:46:47Mr. Waltz: We've had each other's backs through wars, shaped by decisions made in this building. I promise to keep them and all of you in mind as we support president trump's focus on peace through strength. Our experiences obviously shape how we approach these positions. For this one, my experience as a green beret serving alongside ngos, development agencies, the u.n., in the field, in africa and the middle east, has shaped my view.
▶ 0:47:15Mr. Waltz: I have seen many organizations who mean well but execute poorly. I have literally seen, over and over, hospitals that lack beds, schools that lack supplies, schools with supplies that lack teachers. By the time the aid filters through layers of subcontractors, only pennies reach those in need. As a former congressman, I bring the perspective of representing hard-working americans.
▶ 0:47:45Mr. Waltz: Welders, nurses, teachers, small business owners. If we were at a town hall looking at them, could we answer their questions of whether their money was being well spent? Many of them in my former district would ask, should we be in the u.n. At all? I would answer, number one, with the u.n.'s need for reform but its potential. We should have one place in the world where everyone can talk.
▶ 0:48:14Mr. Waltz: Russia, china, the developing world, can come together and resolve conflicts. After 80 years it has drifted from its core mission of peacemaking and we must return to the charter and first principles. Peacekeeping certainly has an important role, but it needs reform. The U.S. funds 25% of these efforts and yet we have missions in africa -- I talked to a number of you about this during our visits. They cost billions, tens of thousands of soldiers.
▶ 0:48:41Mr. Waltz: We have had two that have been around since the 1940's with no mandate renewal and no end in sight. We must press the security council on length, cost, and states, and focus on peacekeeping and not nationbuilding. Countering china. Absolutely, senator shaheen, it's critical. It's absurd that the world's second-largest economy is treated as a developing nation in most u.n. Agencies giving china favorable status.
▶ 0:49:08Mr. Waltz: China pursues or pushes its personnel into roles at all levels, including bodies that set international standards like aviation, telecommunications, ip. U.S. leadership is essential. America must have a strong voice. If confirmed I will work with secretary rubio to challenge the influence. We will also challenge pervasive anti-semitism.
▶ 0:49:32Mr. Waltz: From 2015-20 23, the general assembly passed 100 54 resolutions against israel versus 71 against all other nations combined. Gaza with its staff involved in the october 7 massacre, it's schools teaching anti-semitic hate must be dismantled. The reappointment of francesca with her calls to boycott american companies doing business with israel highlights this bias.
▶ 0:50:13Mr. Waltz: President trump's executive order, chairman risch, your stand with israel act requires withholding funds from such bodies. I fully support representative elise stefanik's proposal for an abraham accords caucus within the u.n. Regarding budget, the u.n.'s overall revenue has quadrupled in the past 20 years, and yet I would argue we haven't seen a quadrupling of world peace. It has not been commensurate. The U.S. pays more than 183 countries combined.
▶ 0:50:35Mr. Waltz: Meanwhile, 28 countries contribute $37,000 and $5,000 to peacekeeping. Overlapping missions waste resources. If confirmed I will push for transparency, like we are seeing in the secretary-general's u.n. Reform plan calling for a staff cut. It's worth remembering that despite the cuts of the U.S. is by far the most generous nation in the world. Finally, the u.n.'s radical politicalization.
▶ 0:51:04Mr. Waltz: Such reports as "stolen native american land" reports and investigations called "the george floyd mechanism" labeling american police in america systemically racist, with input from countries like cuba and venezuela, it's unacceptable. Ronald reagan once said that the u.n. Can "solve problems were spread discord." he said the choice is ours.
▶ 0:51:30Mr. Waltz: In six months, president trump has brought dozens of hostages home, justice as for our abbey gate gold star families, secure the border, denied iran a nuclear weapon, brought cease-fires to conflicts in africa, the middle east, and asia, yet there is tremendous work to be done. I'm confident under this president's leadership we can continue to spread peace and prosperity. I'm confident we can make the u.n. Great again. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 0:51:57Chair Risch: Thank you, Mr. waltz. Ms. toretti. [indiscernible]
▶ 0:52:11Ms. Toretti: Should I start again?
▶ 0:52:14Chair Risch: We heard you.
▶ 0:52:16Ms. Toretti: I am pretty loud. It is an honor to be here as the nominee for ambassador to the kingdom of sweden. I am deeply grateful to president trump for the trust and honor he has placed to me with this nomination. I am committed to serving the united states with dedication and integrity, and I look forward to working closely with the esteemed committee to advance our nation's interest in sweden.
▶ 0:52:45Ms. Toretti: It is a humbling experience, indeed, to be nominated for a position such as this, yet I said before you today prepared to share with you how my experiences in business, philanthropy, and public service has prepared me for this moment. Before going further, however, perhaps my greatest accomplishments are what I consider to be my greatest gifts. My sons, joe, max, and matthew. I'm proud of the men they have grown up to be.
▶ 0:53:15Ms. Toretti: The three of them are my pride and joy. My concern for their future was the primary motivation that propelled me to political activism many years ago. I am so glad to have my son matthew here with me today. My journey to sitting before you today began, arguably, in 1990 when I assumed leadership of our family business. Following the sudden passing of my father.
▶ 0:53:42Ms. Toretti: Despite what many thought of me, as a young woman finding my way in a field dominated by men, I succeeded and continued to forge a career deep in leadership experience, business acumen, and volunteer service. Today, I am the chairwoman of a board that I have been proud to serve since 1987. Less than 10% of publicly held companies are chaired by women.
▶ 0:54:12Ms. Toretti: My tenure as chair is going into its eighth year. Throughout my adult life, I have sought to bring my experience in business to support a wide range of nonprofit organizations, from supporting the creative arts as president of the end I warhol museum, director of the ncaa leadership advisory board, vice chairman of the pennsylvania state's system of fire education.
▶ 0:54:36Ms. Toretti: For those of you who know me, I care deeply about creating opportunities for women in the workplace and community. I'm proud to have founded numerous programs that train and nurture women in the political arena. I have lived my adult life seeking to provide women opportunities to succeed, a passion which has been a defining characteristic of my adult life.
▶ 0:55:01Ms. Toretti: As a native of rural pennsylvania, serving my community has always remained at the forefront. I've spearheaded many economic development projects, including the construction of an urban outfitters distribution center in my county and was the inspiration for the creation of an osteopathic school in the university located in my community. If confirmed, my primary goals will be to make america safer, stronger, and more prosperous.
▶ 0:55:30Ms. Toretti: Above all, I will prioritize the safety of american citizens traveling or living in sweden, providing them with the support and protection they deserve. I will strengthen our economic ties with sweden and ensure that american business have the fair opportunities to thrive in the swedish market.
▶ 0:55:53Ms. Toretti: I will cooperate with sweden to tackle global challenges, drawing on our respective strengths, to address multifaceted threats posed by china, iran, and others. Sweden's recent entrance to the alliance marked a milestone.
▶ 0:56:14Ms. Toretti: Sweden brings a wealth of defense capabilities to the table, including a robust defense industrial base that is renowned for its innovation and technological advancements. The expertise in advancing military technologies and experience operating in harsh environments will enhance our ability to respond to emerging threats.
▶ 0:56:39Ms. Toretti: If confirmed, I will work closely with our swedish counterparts to ensure that our defense cooperation grows even stronger. Economic priorities will also be at the forefront of my agenda. If confirmed, I will seek to close the trade deficit between our two nations and deliver president trump's america first foreign policy.
▶ 0:57:03Ms. Toretti: By supporting american exports and encouraging swedish investment in the united states, I will encourage collaboration between america and swedish businesses and entrepreneurs ensuring both nations benefit from the advancements in cutting edge fields. I also want to recognize the role sweden played in america's growth. Today millions trace their family roots to sweden.
▶ 0:57:29Ms. Toretti: Swedish americans have made significant contributions to our cultural, economic, and social fabric. They have enriched our society and fostered a deep understanding and appreciation of swedish culture. These bonds come along with ties forged through trade, travel, and defense, contribute to a unique, vibrant, growing relationship. In conclusion, I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the united states' ambassador to sweden.
▶ 0:57:57Ms. Toretti: If confirmed, I am committed to advancing our nation's interests, strengthening our bilateral relationship, and serving the american people. Thank you for your time and consideration. I welcome your questions.
▶ 0:58:12Chair Risch: Thank you very much. Appreciate that. We will do a round of five-minute question starting with myself. Mr. waltz, thank you for those remarks. Really impressive. Clearly, you have a good handle on what you are facing about the u.n., undoubtably as a result of your service in the house and the head of nsc. I think that you lay this out in black and white.
▶ 0:58:39Chair Risch: It's amazing to me that the american people get this better than members of congress it seems to me. We've had some towns in idaho for many years with a sign outside that said this group meets at such and such a time, u.n. Free zone. They got it. There is not a lot going on right now that's helpful to us. I met with secretary gutierrez who comes in all the time I guess to check the box.
▶ 0:59:11Chair Risch: He gets pretty disgusted with me when I say, what are you doing? We are passing out food here. That is our money. What else? We are keeping peace. That is our money. Let's go back to the founding document that talks about keeping countries from trying to overtake other countries. You can't even pass a resolution condemning what russia has done. What good are you? We are spending this money.
▶ 0:59:39Chair Risch: When you get things as atrocious as the fact that taxpayer money -- and there were people who went with hamas, members of hamas, who invaded israel and murdered people and took hostages, who were on the payroll of the u.n. Which is on the payroll of the united states taxpayers. It's outrageous. You have a heavy lift, and we all know what china is doing with their penetration. Your thoughts?
▶ 1:00:09Mr. Waltz: Thank you, Mr. chairman. I appreciate that and share your concerns. President and secretary rubio share your concerns. These are the concerns of our constituents. How are we going to be great stewards, the best stewards we can possibly be, of their hard earned money. There are a number of reviews underway that have been underway to take a good look at that and how do we get the u.n.
▶ 1:00:35Mr. Waltz: Back to basics? There is good and meaningful work to be done. I would be honored, if confirmed, to represent the united states there. We have the snapback sanctions with iran that germany just invoked as part of the iran's violations of its obligations under the nuclear proliferation treaty.
▶ 1:01:04Mr. Waltz: Of course, we have the bold opening that the president announced in his trip to the middle east and led an opportunity in syria that we have to watch closely. We have a number of sanctions that we need to lift there to recognize those opportunities that many in the region are looking forward to engaging on. I have to tell you.
▶ 1:01:26Mr. Waltz: Person after person, official after official, said can we get some leadership up there to roll those sanctions back that the president has now done under his executive order so that we can prevent syria from devolving back into chaos?
▶ 1:01:44Mr. Waltz: Of course, we have a number of peacekeeping missions that too often these mandate renewals, which typically happen every year -- I mentioned two that are open-ended -- those are opportunities to get better results, frankly, and question those things that I laid out. How much, how much are we going to accomplish? We have the general assembly, the world leaders assembling the september. If confirmed, there's a lot of work to be done.
▶ 1:02:13Mr. Waltz: I think there is some goodness to be done, but it must come on the back of major reform. I have sat in many house hearings where we talked about reform and don't see it implemented. I think under this president's leadership and secretaries leadership, it's time to get to work.
▶ 1:02:28Chair Risch: Good thoughts. Mr. arrigo, I will take a quick run at you. The people of america seem to have a pretty good view of portugal. We've had a good relationship with them and they appear to be a good friend. They have a couple of soft spots. Number one, china has got the deepest penetration of portugal than any country in europe. The second is they can't even get to 2% let alone the 5% that we are demanding now.
▶ 1:02:56Chair Risch: You're going to have to get them there and hopefully bring them to their senses in dealing with china. Your thoughts?
▶ 1:03:03Mr. Arrigo: Thank you for that very important question. You are very right. They have been, over decades, down at the bottom. 25 out of 32 or lower in defense spending. It would be my job to see if we can sit down and come to the table with the military modernization that they desperately need. Their fleet is quite aging.
▶ 1:03:30Mr. Arrigo: I think that the f-35 program would be one of my top priorities. I believe that if we could sit down and come to an agreement, that would push them right to the top and over on their way to the 5%. When it comes to china's involvement, you are right.
▶ 1:03:47Mr. Arrigo: I've noticed as a private citizen -- I have done some reading -- is it right to have some of the largest companies in china be owning some of the energy companies in portugal? Is it right to have a construction owning some of the largest ccp companies owning some of the largest construction companies in portugal? That would probably need to be discussed.
▶ 1:04:14Mr. Arrigo: If confirmed, I would like to sit and discuss all of the threats that we have between the energy sector, the construction, and the defense spending with portugal to get them to do their fair share.
▶ 1:04:28Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, Mr.. Excuse me. Mr. waltz, these last few months have illustrated how china is all too eager to take advantage of our disengagement at the u.n. And around the world. While we may not all like what some u.n. Institutions do, if we are not at the table we cannot influence the agenda.
▶ 1:04:54Sen. Shaheen: Do you agree that if confirmed a central responsibility of your role at the u.n. Will be to ensure that the united states is present, able, and willing to counter the prc's growing influence at the u.n.?
▶ 1:05:08Mr. Waltz: I appreciate the question. I agree it's critical. If confirmed, yes, I agree. I will take a second to point out under the first trump administration under the 2018 national security strategy, he led the privet, which I think pivoted the entire national security apparatus in washington, D.C. away from the middle east and counterterrorism not as a zero sum but to focus on the near peer a that china absolutely is.
▶ 1:05:40Mr. Waltz: In this administration, secretary rubio's first trip west of panama to address what we've heard in hearing after hearing, an encroachment on the panama canal, a strategic waterway. Panama is the first latin american country in decades to back away from the belt and wrote initiative. -- and road initiative. The malicious behavior and the potential of the chinese communist party, malicious behavior and potential of the relationship will be top of mind for me.
▶ 1:06:10Mr. Waltz: I know that it is for the secretary and the president.
▶ 1:06:13Sen. Shaheen: I agree with you congressman. That is why I find it so puzzling that there has been no coherent strategy for how to address china within this administration. There is no consistent messaging. If you look at where china is moving in, where the united states has moved out, within days of us shutting down usaid and foreign assistance programs china was already labeling the united states as an unreliable partner.
▶ 1:06:41Sen. Shaheen: Within months, china has moved into so many of those foreign assistance programs that have been shut down, that had been operating for years to provide a role for the united states in so much of the world. We have packed up our bags and gone home and it china is there on the ground.
▶ 1:07:04Sen. Shaheen: If you read the report, you will see in instance after instance there are questions about why what we are doing makes us stronger and allows us to compete. Another question about the human because this administration outlined a host of cuts to the u.n. And sub agencies and makes no secret of its disdain for multilateral institutions.
▶ 1:07:29Sen. Shaheen: But I haven't seen a plan from the administration on how it intends to push back against the prc's influence. Can you describe how you think we should be doing that?
▶ 1:07:39Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator shaheen. Just a few points to address. Number one, I look forward to reading the report and working with you, the committee, and the team on that.
▶ 1:07:56Mr. Waltz: I have to tell you, in my experience, even in the last six months, but more broadly, I have seen partners in the middle east that were heading into the prc's orbit make it very clear that they want to work with the united states, particularly since the election of president trump.
▶ 1:08:15Mr. Waltz: I think the peace agreement between the drc and rwanda that we just saw in the oval office, china has had all kinds of activities across africa, but they have also heavily polluted, often engage in certain types of corruption as we have a race for natural resources to power the economies of the future. I think that was an incredible moment.
▶ 1:08:44Mr. Waltz: From the president's perspective, I feel confident in saying that he sees the power of our markets, the power of our economy, he sees ai and energy and other things that we need to unleash in the future. First and foremost, of course we have to have a strong and capable military. Truly, where he is seeking to win this competition, and we will win it, is through those economic endeavors.
▶ 1:09:14Mr. Waltz: I will say to answer your question more directly with the u.n., we have actually seen the leadership of major agencies by the prc go down. This was an initiative started in the first trump administration. There is an office in the state department international organizations focused on these races. They have gone from four to one. They are pushing their folks at the lower and mid levels and we need to compete in that space.
▶ 1:09:41Sen. Shaheen: Thank you, I appreciate that. I am a little over time, but I would like to hear your thoughts on what the u.n.'s role in syria should be as we are looking at I think the trump administration has taken important steps to removing barriers around the sanctions that have been a problem for syria moving forward. What should the u.n.'s role be there?
▶ 1:10:09Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. It's something that secretary rubio in particular, but the entire administration has looked closely at. Since the fall of the assad regime during the transition -- I think it was a bit of a good news bipartisan story on how everyone worked together to make what has been a bold step. The president lifting sanctions.
▶ 1:10:34Mr. Waltz: To answer your question directly, first and foremost, if confirmed it is to work with our allies and partners. We literally have layers and layers of sanctions that were intended for the assad regime to counter iranian influence.
▶ 1:10:52Mr. Waltz: As the turks in particular under the now leadership of ambassador tom barrick, I think that there is tremendous opportunity, but we have a moment almost reminding me of the post libya phase where we have a moment that we can seize or if syria devolves into chaos it could pull the region with it.
▶ 1:11:14Mr. Waltz: For now, it is a moment of opportunity, and I hope to complement both special envoy would cough, secretary rubio, investor barrick, and others with our efforts in the u.n.
▶ 1:11:26Sen. Shaheen: Hopefully we will do better in syria than we did in libya.
▶ 1:11:31Chair Risch: Amen to that. Thank you for your focus on syria. This is a critical moment and an opportunity. Obviously, there are problems, there is a history there that bears watching, but whenever we engage in these things, the people they are have to want it more than we do.
▶ 1:11:59Chair Risch: We see that in dealing with both the lebanese and the syrians. We hope that it can come to fruition. It bears watching, but we appreciate your strong hand on the tiller. With that, senator ricketts. >> thank you, senator ricketts, for the time accommodation. To each of you, I want to congratulate you for your nomination to represent the greatest country in the world.
▶ 1:12:27Chair Risch: You will have wonderful and exceptional experience, should you be confirmed. It's no surprise that we live in a very challenging and dangerous world right now. It's only going to be through the talents and sacrifices of you and your families that we will be able to ensure america's prosperity and security in the world. Thank you for your willingness to serve. I will turn my attention, no surprise, to Mr. waltz.
▶ 1:12:54Chair Risch: You are getting ready to take on a critical role at a place that was founded on some fundamental principles. The principles of the u.n. And its founding, freedom, peace, human rights. Those are the founding documents. That was in the charter of the united nations. What we see happening today at the u.n. Is far divorced from those founding principles. Instead, what we find is the overly politicized organization that tends to criticize and working in the interest of the united states and its allies.
▶ 1:13:27Chair Risch: Frankly, one that supports authoritarian regimes in many cases, advancing their interests over those of the united states. As our chairman mentioned, we are the largest donor. The united states is the largest donor to the u.n., and yet at the same time we are not getting the type of results. What happened on october 7? That was an absolute disgrace. We found out the people on the united nations payroll were actually involved in the hamas attack.
▶ 1:13:56Chair Risch: What happened from senior leaders at the u.n.? They used every opportunity they can to criticize israel. At the same time, they diminished the role of their own personnel in those attacks. It's shocking to me. What I would like to hear from you, Mr. waltz, is -- it is actually a two-part question. The most important challenges at the u.n. That the united states faces at the u.n., and number two, how will you address those challenges?
▶ 1:14:24Mr. Waltz: C1 >> first and foremost is we need to driver reform. I understand there is concern about the president's budget request. I see it as a moment of opportunity.
▶ 1:14:45Mr. Waltz: If you look at when reform has actually happened, it's when the united states says we need to actually see things before the U.S. taxpayer continues to write checks. We sought in the late 1990's led by jesse helms that turned into the helms-by legislation.
▶ 1:15:04Mr. Waltz: We saw it in the early 1990's with something approximating inspector general but we need more reform in that regard. We need those reforms to continue forward.
▶ 1:15:23Mr. Waltz: I do not think secretary-general gutierrez would not have his plan if he did not take president trump seriously. If we are cutting 20% of their staff, there's over 20,000 staff just in the secretariat.these are expensive places like geneva, rome, new york.
▶ 1:15:52Mr. Waltz: They need more efficient -- they need to be more efficient. In terms of syria, iran, lebanon, what have you and certainly the counter china efforts. >> I appreciate your focus on an organization missing the mark and has been misguided in 70 directions. -- so many directions. I would have to ask about china and is maligned intentions.
▶ 1:16:22Mr. Waltz: It has weaponized the u.n. To advance their ambitions and do this at the expense of the united states interests. I would like to hear your thoughts in terms of what you might do to specifically address china's influence and make sure the united states interest is held a priority.
▶ 1:16:41Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. First and foremost, my opening remarks, the favoritism the second-largest economy receives by being treated as a developing country, one that, aligns with the g-77 pay collection of countries that are top recipients of usaid except their voting rate with us is at the bottom.
▶ 1:17:07Mr. Waltz: Two, the world bank classifies china as an upper middle income country for the last 15 years. They make concessionary loans to china funded by the U.S. taxpayer. That is one of a number of examples that is one of a number of examples. -- examples. They are pursuing an ai agenda. We need to block and tackle in these forms.
▶ 1:17:36Mr. Waltz: >> I want to thank senator ricketts for of allowing me to move forward.
▶ 1:17:40Chair Risch: Thank you. Senator merkley.
▶ 1:17:46Sen. Merkley: It's a pleasure to have you here. The united nations is a chance to be surrounded by diplomats from other nations and enhance the conversation about challenging circumstances. It's a critical part of our foreign policy efforts. I wanted to mention a couple of issues. One is that secretary rubio worked together with me on the labor force -- uighur labor force prevention act.
▶ 1:18:18Sen. Merkley: Goods made from certain parts of china are in fact made with slave labor. We protected many products. The challenge is they are being exported to other nations, particularly canada on the west coast.
▶ 1:18:34Sen. Merkley: Would you see the possibility of working with other nations to pursue a similar structure so this effort to end the acceptability of products made it slave labor in china is thwarted on a broader basis?
▶ 1:18:52Mr. Waltz: Thank you for the question, senator. It's an incredibly difficult and heartbreaking issue. A few years ago there was a report that highlighted 80 international brands, many of whom are common brands that we use and purchase today that were using slave labor from western china.
▶ 1:19:20Mr. Waltz: One of our efforts I hide it -- highlighted the world's's largest solar panel factory that was being subsidized by the U.S. taxpayer, being subsidized in the inflation reduction act. If you followed the power lines it was being powered by russian coal in 12 power plants producing solar panels funded or staffed with slave labor.
▶ 1:19:50Mr. Waltz: It is something I would look to work with you want.
▶ 1:19:52Sen. Merkley: I have several questions. You are working towards a yes with great background. Thank you. Taiwan is an area I've had concern and have engaged in as a democratic lead on the china commission. We have held a lot of hearings on it. China has blocked their participation in many international organizations, including various agencies within the u.n.
▶ 1:20:22Sen. Merkley: Do opportunity to press her do opportunity to press h for taiwan having greater representation?
▶ 1:20:28Mr. Waltz: Senator, I support the united states and the united states -- the united states supports taiwan and international organizations. We have a long-standing china policy governed by the three communiqués. That is the policy I will execute if confirmed to the ambassador to the u.n.
▶ 1:20:55Sen. Merkley: Even apart from the u.n., there are international bodies we can advocate for. It would be well received and a direct message of our support for taiwan on security. Turning to iran, a week ago the president said. I hope it is over I think iran wants to meet. I think they want to make peace. I'm all for it. It seems like there's a win-win opportunity here. Iran said it doesn't want to pursue nuclear weapons. Our intelligence has confirmed that.
▶ 1:21:26Sen. Merkley: In the past they accepted steve limitations, well below the 90%. There is a deep weariness over the stagnating economy and around that has not --in iran. There's a framework of an enduring peace in which iran is nuclear weapon-free, guaranteeing there is no uranium path or surreptitious path.
▶ 1:21:56Sen. Merkley: They will stop supporting militias through the ark through syria and lebanon. There's a more prosperous economy and the iranian people return to full members of the international community. You mentioned germany and the united kingdom and france will snap back on the jcpoa. Will you work to utilize your role at united nations to find this win-win solution to the situation with iran?
▶ 1:22:27Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. What I mentioned germany, my understanding is germany as part of the -- the mechanism is triggered. There is a multiweek cure period and a 30 day period.
▶ 1:22:52Mr. Waltz: I would engage in that process and have been working with allies, as has special on what wikoff and secretary rubio -- special envoy wikoff and secretary rubio. We need to recognize and thank our amazing b2 pilots. Everything and everyone that worked with them from maintainers, refuelers, the intelligence community to make sure iran could never have a nuclear weapon. The president has been clear in his goal for quite some time.
▶ 1:23:24Mr. Waltz: In terms of negotiations, the president made it very clear he hopes for a better future for the iranian people. We all do. We engaged in diplomacy, working with our partners in oman. We also made it very clear they could not have a domestic enrichment capability.
▶ 1:23:44Mr. Waltz: If they want a 1, 2, 3 agreement like our allies in the uae, if they want to buy material, have a civil program, until directed otherwise that is absolutely on the table. This is a moment with syria, lebanon, with the abraham accords that I think we could see prosperity. The regime has to make a decision to move away from its desire to have a nuclear weapon.
▶ 1:24:13Sen. Merkley: Thank you.
▶ 1:24:18Chair Risch: Mr. waltz, you are correct. The problem is not with the iranian people, is with the iranian regime. Senator ricketts.
▶ 1:24:28Sen. Ricketts: Thank you to all of our nominees and congratulations on your nomination and thank you for your willingness to serve our great nation. Mr. waltz, I will pick up where senator merkley left off. You mentioned germany has triggered snapback sanctions. My team was doing research to try to find that. We could not find a mention of that but is hugely important that the e3 get those snapback sanctions.
▶ 1:24:59Sen. Ricketts: The air campaign by israel and our bombers to be able to hit those key nuclear facilities was really important in hampering iran's ability to have a nuclear enrichment program. It is not the end of the story. We have more work to do. Iran is still out of compliance with their obligations under the jcpoa.
▶ 1:25:24Sen. Ricketts: And not allowing the inspectors to be able to get into those facilities. They are in violation. It is critical e3 do the snapback functions. When you commit to working with him to push them to get the snapback in place? The deadline of october 18 you were mentioning, it's more like september where they have to get this done. If confirmed, will you push them to get this done?
▶ 1:25:53Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. My mention of germany was from open source reporting. If that was an error --Sen. ricketts: good news if it is true.
▶ 1:26:08Mr. Waltz: We have spoken to the united kingdom and france as well. I have full confidence they will work with us. We have had these conversations literally through the transition and over the last six months. The second executive order the president signed was to reinstitute maximum pressure on iran. You raise a fantastic point. We need to get these inspectors back in.
▶ 1:26:40Mr. Waltz: It's obviously notable that the june report from the iaea was the first censure of iran for its noncompliance and quite a long time.
▶ 1:26:49Sen. Ricketts: One thing iran says is they want the program for peaceful means, yet there's no reason they need to have a nuclear program, a civilian nuclear program. 23 nations are doing it without enrichment facilities. We need to push -- the only way they can guarantee they not get a weapon is that they don't have enrichment facilities. Do you agree?
▶ 1:27:17Mr. Waltz: I would. The most amazing aspect of this episode was that the president truly sought diplomacy first. He took bold and decisive action along with israel animatedly returned to the situation right back to a cease-fire to engage in diplomacy.
▶ 1:27:42Mr. Waltz: When president trump says he puts diplomacy first, I have seen it firsthand and I would be honored if confirmed to continue to participate.
▶ 1:27:52Sen. Ricketts: Let's talk about one of our best friends in the middle east, israel. You mentioned in your remarks the antisemitism that is rampant in the united nations. There were more resolutions targeting israel that all of the nations doubled. It is stunning with the united nations has done. That's what the united nations has done.
▶ 1:28:24Sen. Ricketts: What specific actions can you take to shut down this antisemitism at the u.n. And the anti-israeli business?
▶ 1:28:34Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. It is pervasive. I could spend the rest of this hearing sadly highlighting the anti-semitic activities. One aspect of which is article seven in the human rights council. Israel is the only nation with a standing mandate to highlight its "human rights abuses." every single meeting. Is been going on for decades.
▶ 1:29:06Mr. Waltz: I mentioned the number of resolutions just this year were on track for the same type of disparity in 2025. I support the secretary's call for sanctions on the special repertoire. I think she is the poster child for antisemitism in the u.n. We have to address and work with both israel and our allies on why this continues to happen.
▶ 1:29:35Mr. Waltz: I understand the humanitarian crisis in gaza. I will say over and over again, if hamas would lay down their arms, if they would surrender, stop sacrificing their own people the fighting would stop today. I am confident in working with israel in that regard.
▶ 1:29:56Sen. Ricketts: I think your last point was a fine one. I have seen nothing out of the u.n. Calling on hamas to surrender because that's exactly how this would end. The people of gaza would be able to start looking for a better way of life once that terrorist organization surrenders. So push the countries of the u.n.
▶ 1:30:21Sen. Ricketts: To come down very clearly that they can best serve the people in gaza by getting hamas to surrender.
▶ 1:30:30Chair Risch: Will said. Senator murphy.
▶ 1:30:33Sen. Murphy: Thank you all for being here. The u.n. Does not have a conventional argie -- army. This is a place where smart power matters. A place were we invest in diplomacy and humanitarian aid and economic development to stabilize the world.
▶ 1:30:56Sen. Murphy: What worries me about your fit for this position is that while you are at the national security council you oversaw the dismantling of many of our most important smart power tools in the U.S. foreign policy toolkit.
▶ 1:31:12Sen. Murphy: A lot of conversations happened on this committee about what has happened to usaid influencing through economic development and humanitarian assistance but not as much about the attempted destruction of our information and media operations around the world.
▶ 1:31:37Sen. Murphy: This administration, while you are at the nsc, essentially shut down U.S. agm, the umbrella agency for our media operations. Fired 92% of the staff. Announced plans to shut down radio free europe and voice of america. That's only open because of court orders.
▶ 1:32:00Sen. Murphy: The administration does not support the global engagement center, shutting down the state department's ability to work with partners to counter chinese propaganda and russian propaganda. We were already being -- having circles run around us by russia and china predominantly even before the administration went forward with this essential destruction of our existing
▶ 1:32:31Sen. Murphy: Information and counter propaganda capacity. May be share with me -- why did you believe an advanced U.S. national security interests to shut down our most important agencies that try to win the information war? A war that exists in this world and we are not fighting it today while the adversaries are.
▶ 1:32:57Mr. Waltz: Thank you for the question. I think we are in violent agreement we have to win the information war. We have a disagreement on the best way to do that. But we did not see were the metrics or actual results. We have circle -- in many ways we are outpaced in the information space.
▶ 1:33:24Mr. Waltz: Yet for decades we've had these in cities -- these entities that have become quite bloated. The best way to block and tackle our adversaries abroad is through our amazing private sector, through innovation, through what we are seeing in our leadership role in ai and other spaces. As the president and secretary looked across the interagency entities they made their decisions.
▶ 1:33:51Sen. Murphy: The private sector is not going to fight russia and chinese propaganda around the world. That has to be an essential function of U.S. national security policy, correct?
▶ 1:34:05Mr. Waltz: What they are going to do is show the power of free markets, the power of entrepreneurship, and show the power of the U.S. in terms of a free society and values. I think we are actually more aligned than what you think. We were looking at the effectiveness. It is the tool that we questioned.
▶ 1:34:33Mr. Waltz: The president and secretary made a decision to reallocate resources.
▶ 1:34:36Sen. Murphy: I hope the administration does rethink this. If they have a better idea on how does project power in the information space, we are all willing to hear it. Right now we are taking ourselves off the playing field. You were involved in the offense of operations in yemen -- offensive operations in yemen, restarting attacks on the shipping lanes.
▶ 1:35:06Sen. Murphy: Two devastating attacks. They have been continuing to take operations against israel. It does not look like we did much to fundamentally change the battle space. They still have pretty robust offensive capabilities to target shipping lanes and target our friends. We spent around $1 billion in depleted a lot of ammunition stocks.
▶ 1:35:33Sen. Murphy: How do you look at that operation in retrospect knowing as we sit here today the who these -- houthis have begun again attacks on the red sea?
▶ 1:35:45Mr. Waltz: 20% to 30% increase in shipping through the red sea, increasing revenues through the suez canal. We do not have warships being used as target practice by the houthis. Do we need to work to make sure that enduring? Perhaps they leadership is not fully gotten the message.
▶ 1:36:13Mr. Waltz: I would differ to secretary rubio and secretary hegseth and the president on the way forward.
▶ 1:36:19Chair Risch: Senator barrasso.
▶ 1:36:24Sen. Barrasso: Mr. waltz, thank you for coming to my office yesterday. I knew you would do a terrific job representing our nation at the united nations. We are the largest financial contributor, over $13 billion to the united nations in the last fiscal year. As ambassador you will need to examine how american taxpayer funding is being used by so many of these international programs.
▶ 1:36:52Sen. Barrasso: Talk about your commitment to reviewing every dollar going to the u.n. To ensure our taxpayer dollars are.being used wisely you had a list yesterday of amazing places the taxpayers would be offended to see whether dollars are going for the united nations. Can you share the information?
▶ 1:37:12Mr. Waltz: I appreciate our time together. One of the main thrusts of the u.n. Over the last couple of decades has been on climate and focus on climate change and a number of initiatives.
▶ 1:37:28Mr. Waltz: Setting aside the debate on climate, if you just look at the organizations amongst the 80 various specialized agencies, programs and funds, you have the environment program, convention to combat identification, union for conservation of nature, the secretary of the pacific regional environment a program, global environmental facility, commission for environmental cooperation, and other agencies like the global fund for hiv, tuberculosis and malaria.
▶ 1:37:58Mr. Waltz: It has as its mission, one of his missions, climate change as a largest global health challenges in the 21st century. Just to further -- I have a page here, a list of pages, 455 of international organizations that we contribute some type of funding towards.
▶ 1:38:25Chair Risch: Let's put those in the record.
▶ 1:38:28Mr. Waltz: A few of them, the pacific salmon commission, pacific islands foreign fishery commission, pan-african postal union, pan-american health organization, pan-american institute on geography and history, the international lithosphere program. Again, it is quite a list.
▶ 1:38:53Mr. Waltz: This is tens of thousands of hundreds of thousands to seven to eight figures in the millions that are going to these organizations. I think it is incumbent on this administration to say what is it doing, is it making us safer, stronger and more prosperous, and are we getting the bang for our buck.
▶ 1:39:10Sen. Barrasso: I hear about american sovereignty. How are you going to work to preserve and protect american sovereignty within the u.n.?
▶ 1:39:22Mr. Waltz: Thank you. America's sovereignty will always be first and foremost as we engage all of these international organizations. I think we need to weigh the pros and cons of the organizations we engage. That's a robust discussion with this committee and with the administration.
▶ 1:39:48Mr. Waltz: To the extent we do our sovereignty, our people, our bosses will be first and foremost and top of mind.
▶ 1:39:54Sen. Barrasso: This came up in the introduction by senator lee and senator scott . The palestinian authority has sought to use the united nations to downgrade the status of israel. When you commit to musing the american veto to block these one-sided resolutions at the un security council?
▶ 1:40:18Mr. Waltz: Of course I will work closely with the president and secretary on those votes. Yes.
▶ 1:40:24Sen. Barrasso: Any specific measures that should address the bias against israel within the u.n.?had we advocate for those changes ? -- how do we advocate for the changes?
▶ 1:40:38Mr. Waltz: It is not only needs to be defunded, which the president put in place with his executive order but it should be dismantled. We can have a conversation on who and what can take out those humanitarian rules. It should not be --
▶ 1:41:00Sen. Barrasso: In terms of selecting a new secretary-general after the term expires, that is something I imagine you would be very much involved in. The same plans in terms of what we need to do?
▶ 1:41:14Mr. Waltz: The term will expire at the end of next year. My understanding is the race and campaigning for that will start this fall and I commit to working with you and others to make sure we have someone in line with our interest.
▶ 1:41:29Sen. Barrasso: I suggest we have somebody representing the united states at the u.n. With his nominee by that time when those activities begin. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:41:41Chair Risch: Senator coons.
▶ 1:41:45Sen. Coons: Thank you to the nominees for your willingness to serve our nation. My thanks to you and your wife who has also served our nation in combat, and to your family. I want to get to the larger questions of the mission but in your role in the army, the house, national security advisor, you have long handled classified and sensitive information.
▶ 1:42:16Sen. Coons: We both know signal is not an appropriate, secu means of communicating. On march 24, the atlantic published a series of signal messages including sensitive information about U.S. military operation against the houthis involving you and several other trump officials. Were you investigated for this disclosure of sensitive operational information?
▶ 1:42:42Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. That engagement was driven by and recommended by the cyber security infrastructure security agency, by the biden administration.
▶ 1:43:00Sen. Coons: I'm sorry -- the use of information on signal?
▶ 1:43:07Mr. Waltz: The use of signal is not only as an encrypted app not only authorized, it was recommended inviting -- by biden era guidance. Only use end to end encrypted communications to secure can vacations that guarantees and encryption, particularly if you're highly targeted individual such as signal or similar apps.
▶ 1:43:40Mr. Waltz: They recommend encrypted messaging on government and personal devices.
▶ 1:43:43Sen. Coons: For sensitive military information??
▶ 1:43:48Mr. Waltz: There was no classified information exchange.
▶ 1:43:52Sen. Coons: You were sharing details about an upcoming airstrike and the time of launch and potential targets. This was demonstrably sensitive information. Were you investigated for this expansion of the signal group to include a journalist?
▶ 1:44:13Mr. Waltz: The white house conducted an investigation. My understanding is the department of defense is still conducting an investigation.
▶ 1:44:21Sen. Coons: Any disciplinary action taken?
▶ 1:44:26Mr. Waltz: From the white house investigation? No. The use of signal was not only authorized, it is still authorized and highly recommended.
▶ 1:44:35Sen. Coons: Would you recommend the use of signal to be sharing information between folks?
▶ 1:44:41Mr. Waltz: We followed the recommendation, almost the demand to use end-to-end encryption. There was no classified information shared.
▶ 1:44:52Sen. Coons: Did you speak to secretary hegseth about his decision to share information on specifics of an imminent military strike?
▶ 1:45:02Mr. Waltz: What we spoke about was a highly successful mission that did something the biden administration did not do, target the who the leadership. We saw cease fire in increase in shipping and drop in attacks on our ships.
▶ 1:45:18Sen. Coons: Here is what I hear in this exchange, and I want to get to the -- at the time you took responsibility for added a journalist inadvertently to a signal chat. It does not seem to me the administration has taken action to make sure this does not happen again. There's been no consequences, if the president announces those who leak information. We both know signal is not a secure way to communicate classified information.
▶ 1:45:46Sen. Coons: I was hoping to hear you had some sense of regret over sharing what was very sensitive, timely information about a military strike on a commercially available app that is not the appropriate way to share such critical information.
▶ 1:46:01Mr. Waltz: I think what we have the fundamental disagreement is there was no classified information on that chat.
▶ 1:46:08Sen. Coons: I'm going to move on but we have plenty more to discuss on that point. China in the u.n. System. There was plenty of agreement that we need to combat anti-semitism and anti-israel bias, ensure taxpayer dollars are well spent, to engage in our world. From your service on the china task force you know very well what a central challenge is that china is.
▶ 1:46:40Sen. Coons: Across organizations, I think the only way we successfully pushed back on china's influence is being at the table, driving reform. When president trump withdrew from the world health organization, the chinese center lagos delegation ever to the next meeting and contributed $500 million. I can understand some of the frustrations or concerns that led to the withdrawal from unesco.
▶ 1:47:08Sen. Coons: In the last congress with israeli support I let our regional any of unesco. -- rejoining of?. We talked about -- rejoining of unesco. How do you dramatically reduce our contributions to the u.n. With needing to be at the table to fight for the standards? Whether it is telecommunications, civil aviation, intellectual property. You waved a great big list of organizations. Many do critical things.
▶ 1:47:38Sen. Coons: How are you going to strike that balance?
▶ 1:47:40Mr. Waltz: It was good to discuss this with you. I will point out in the president's budget request there is funding her iaea -- for iaea, the prohibition of chemical weapons, the itu, I look forward to working with you and with this committee on how we make those decisions and where we engage in how we engage.
▶ 1:48:09Mr. Waltz: We are in agreement we have to block and tackle the chinese influence.
▶ 1:48:11Sen. Coons: Would you place should not support unilateral withdrawal from these organizations?
▶ 1:48:20Mr. Waltz: I will follow the secretary and the president's guidance as we weigh that engagement through reviews.
▶ 1:48:29Sen. Lee: Mr. waltz, I would like to start by going deeper into something related to what senator barrasso has to. Membership of the u.n.'s board of auditors is currently shared by three countries. China, france and brazil. This is a body that's appointed by the u.n.
▶ 1:48:54Sen. Lee: General assembly and tasked with generating accurate accounts of u.n. Funds and programs and where the money's going. An audit is of course by definition only as reliable as its owner.
▶ 1:49:14Sen. Lee: The u.n.'s board of auditors not only gives china a seat at the table bit names china as the lead auditor for organizations, including one that had terrace on its payrolls through 2023. Some would say longer than that.
▶ 1:49:32Sen. Lee: The environmental program, despite the fact the program has been exploiting the developing country status to access environmental related financial assistance for a number of countries, including some that arguably don't deserve that definition. Andy -- and the u.n. Headquarters is based in new york.
▶ 1:50:00Sen. Lee: How can we find these entities knowing at some point of the process are dollars will become co-mingled into these international accounts? Accounts of many strategic competitors -- that many strategic competitors may be in charge of auditing. How do we deal with that?
▶ 1:50:22Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator lee. Thank you for the kind introduction earlier. As I take a first principle sitting down with my firefighters, welders, small business owners and saying I know exactly where your dollars are going and is being well spent. I don't think we can say that at this point. It is one thing for it to come out of their hands into the federal government. Then it goes from the federal government to a multinational entity.
▶ 1:50:51Mr. Waltz: Then he goes down to an agency, 15 of whom have their separate boards and agendas. I know something that's important to the chairman and a number of you, co-mingled with other internationals like the internet -- like the african union. We don't know where it is going. I pointed out earlier in the early 1990's and the clinton administration some folks in this body said enough is enough.
▶ 1:51:19Mr. Waltz: We got the closest thing, the office of internal oversight and investigation. The closest thing there is to an ig, but he reports to itself. It is not truly independent and not just on the money side.
▶ 1:51:35Mr. Waltz: If you have whistleblowers that say there is broad-based abuse and it comes back to itself or things like sexual abuse in the u.n.'s peacekeeping forces, we need an independent entity we have confidence in did understand with this money and other nefarious activities are happening.
▶ 1:51:56Sen. Lee: It becomes like a self licking ice cream cone. The rogue actor in the u.n.
▶ 1:52:04Mr. Waltz: The budget went from $15 million -- $15 billion to $65 billion in the last 15 years.
▶ 1:52:12Sen. Lee: The U.S. has considered u.n. Reforms. The conversation is centered on problematic entities and U.S. contributions but don't necessarily capture the full universe of options available to us. That translate into leverage and influence at the u.n.
▶ 1:52:37Sen. Lee: Decades ago at the direction of congress the state department produced an annual report on voting practices. This was since 1983. 42 years it's been going on. The report demonstrates the U.S. is outvoted in the vast majority of cases at the u.n. That is how it turns out.
▶ 1:53:01Sen. Lee: Despite this report at our disposal, succes -- successive administrations have yet to draw much of a correlation between voting coincidences at the u.n. And the revision of U.S. foreign aid, with the U.S. consistently providing aid to countries who actively and routinely almost as a matter of course oppose U.S. positions at the u.n.
▶ 1:53:35Sen. Lee: As the current administration carries out this much needed and welcomed long overdue review of U.S. foreign aid so as to recalibrate our aid to our interests, should voting patterns at the u.n. Be used as a metric to take into account and determine and qualify?
▶ 1:54:03Mr. Waltz: It's a fantastic point. I will commit to work with this committee, the secretary to put mechanisms in place that it is. If you look at the aid by the figures I have seen, over one hundred billion dollars have gone through u.n. Entities into africa and we are looking between eight 29% and 32% voting coincidence right.
▶ 1:54:29Mr. Waltz: We have the highest continent with the highest recipient of american workers money siding with us by far the least. It is completely inverted. I commit to work very hard to use the leverage that only this president could use to reverse that trend.
▶ 1:54:47Sen. Lee: Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:54:50Chair Risch: Senator kaine.
▶ 1:54:54Sen. Kaine: I want to shout out -- I want to follow up on the questions on the use of signal to make sure we are all on the same wavelength. Signal is useful because it is encrypted. As far as I know signal has not been approved for use by U.S. government officials for the sharing of classified information, is that correct?
▶ 1:55:24Mr. Waltz: That is correct.
▶ 1:55:26Sen. Kaine: Thank you for the shout on vmi.
▶ 1:55:30Mr. Waltz: No classified information was shared. --Sen. kaine: you indicated no classified information was shared. I see the question. Why did your office at the atlantic reporter? I'm sure you have learned something from that. On the question of whether classified information was shared there are at least two dod investigations.
▶ 1:55:59Mr. Waltz: One, the ig and a second air force investigation on into whether secretary hegseth share classified information. Those are ongoing. They have not reached a conclusion. They have not reached a conclusion that no classified information was shared. Am I wrong about that?
▶ 1:56:17Mr. Waltz: Thank you for the question. I can't comment on an ongoing investigation. I can echo secretary hegseth's testimony that no names, targets, locations, units, routes, sources, methods, classified information was shared.
▶ 1:56:39Mr. Waltz: I'm sure secretary hegseth says he does not share classified information but there are two investigations going on at the pentagon cicely to determine the objective whether classified information was shared. At a minimum, sharing attack plans with with sensitive military information that should not be shared. There was an article I read that came out yesterday I would like to introduce into the record, Mr. chair. The trump administration is about to incinerate 500 turns of emergency food.
▶ 1:57:10Mr. Waltz: It was published in the atlantic yesterday. This is more of a set up for the hearing we will have tomorrow. I want to put it on the record so he can be prepared to answer the question. The article suggests 500 tons of food purchased by the united states that are nutritional biscuits designed to stop children from starving. They have been in a warehouse in dubai for months and months and months.
▶ 1:57:40Mr. Waltz: Senator rubio has testified about that both here and in the past that he would make sure that food purchased to keep kids from starving would not be allowed to spoil. The article suggested the food is on the verge of spoliation an the -- and of U.S. will incinerate it. I assume this is not an issue you have been involved into this point.
▶ 1:58:12Mr. Waltz: It hasn't.
▶ 1:58:17Sen. Kaine: Let me ask a question that is the values question. I will start with Mr. arrigo and I will go across. I want to ask if you agree with me. If the united states has purchased specialty foods designed to help kids from starving, we should deliver that food to kids rather than allow it to spoil and incinerate it. That is my view. Do you agree or not?
▶ 1:58:46Mr. Arrigo: Thank you for the question. As a private citizen this is something I have just heard of today. I have not been briefed on the situation. I don't know the depth of what you are saying. I would have to probably refer back to secretary rubio and president trump to find out exactly where and what happened to this particular situation so I could answer you better.
▶ 1:59:15Mr. Waltz: Senator, we should always be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. If it has been purchased, I don't disagree that it should be delivered. However, I think there is more to dig into. It's the first time I'm hearing of it. In sudan, they have real distribution problems. In gaza, there are real distribution problems.
▶ 1:59:43Sen. Kaine: A lot of starving kids in sudan.
▶ 1:59:45Ms. Toretti: Thank you for the question. I agree. That does not mean I am judging what is happened.
▶ 1:59:53Sen. Kaine: I'm glad you answered unequivocally. It is such a simple question. If the U.S. has purchased food and is to be used for the eradication of starvation among children, we should give it to children and not incinerate it! It is such a simple question. I asked you to test your values. You asked, is her money being well spent when you talk about the united nations? We need to be great stewards.
▶ 2:00:25Sen. Kaine: Allowing this food to sit in a warehouse and then burn it rather than let kids eat and survive, I know what my constituents would think about that and I think all american constituents would think about that.
▶ 2:00:36Chair Risch: Senator daines.
▶ 2:00:40Sen. Daines: Mr. waltz, thank you for being here today. Thank you for your distinguished service to our great nation. The special forces. I enjoyed our conversation yesterday and thank you for accepting the process to play an important role at the united nations. Mr. waltz, the united nations has become a hotbed of anti-semitism.
▶ 2:01:07Sen. Daines: A hotbed of anti-israeli sentiment. U.n. Employees participated in the october 7 attacks. Israeli hostages were held at u.n. Facilities for months. The u.n.
▶ 2:01:24Sen. Daines: Reappointed -- despite -- despite her support for palestinian resistance and regurgitation of anti-israel bible. -- libel. You clearly have your work cut out for you u.n. U.n. At the -- for you at the u.n.
▶ 2:01:50Sen. Daines: How do you plan to counter the antisemitic influence of u.n. Officials?
▶ 2:02:01Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. I enjoyed our engagement as well and your advocacy for the american first agenda. There was it a badge on him in the tunnels of gaza.
▶ 2:02:31Mr. Waltz: There are indications the world health organization and the hospitals they knew that tunnels were being built underneath and knew these hospitals were being used. I have some veterans with you who had been shot at by terrorists hiding behind women and hiding behind children for hamas to literally line the walls of its hideouts with hostages to protect his leadership is it -- its
▶ 2:03:01Mr. Waltz: Leadership and is atrocious and should be called out at every turn. Yet we had to veto a resolution in the security council that went after israel in a horrific war and did not even mention hamas, and certainly not the fact is leaders deliberately sacrificed their own people in order to turn world opinion against israel.
▶ 2:03:29Mr. Waltz: The easiest way to answer your question his sunlight is often the best is infected that is -- is sunlight is often the best disinfectant. I think one of the best communicators in the world, president trump, secretary rubio, and the leadership of this administration continue to call it out.
▶ 2:03:53Sen. Daines: Thank you. I'm grateful you have moral clarity on this important issue. As someone who served, you have served in special operations. These are not theoretical exercises. You see the conflict between good and between people -- evil. We talked about central asia. It is rich in natural resources.
▶ 2:04:24Sen. Daines: He spent some time over there in your prior career. Much of those resources are untapped. The region could be a valuable new partner for energy exports to europe. The u.n. Has pushed central asian countries to only drop -- adopt the radical green agenda instead of a more a balanced approach of all of the above energy.
▶ 2:04:51Sen. Daines: These green developing goals could hinder the growth and success of developing countries like we see in central asia. How can U.S. ambassador ensure that central asia is encouraged to take advantage of its vast and considerable resources to foster a more sustainable and prosperous future?
▶ 2:05:14Mr. Waltz: I appreciated the conversation and always learn a lot from them. One of the things I admire about how president trump approaches diplomacy, we saw in his first middle east trip. Commercial diplomacy. The thing that binds people together often his business. It transcends dogma and transcends ancient ideologies. We are seeing that in the abraham accords with people talking about data centers, rail and roads.
▶ 2:05:45Mr. Waltz: They are not talking about thousand-year-old hatreds. Going back to the old pipeline, one could only imagine if that had been in place. Now everyone has a common economic interest rather than fighting each other. We have real opportunities with turkmenistan for the first time in a long time for the gas to head westward rather than eastward.
▶ 2:06:10Mr. Waltz: We talked about thec5 grouping -- we talked about the c5 grouping and azerbaijan putting a real agreement in place with the armenians and israelis. The commercial opportunities abound for not only american business but that will change the geopolitical landscape. I look forward to working with you and those groupings within the u.n.
▶ 2:06:35Mr. Waltz: Along those lines under the president and secretary's leadership.
▶ 2:06:42Chair Risch: Senator van hollen.
▶ 2:06:47Sen. Van Hollen: I want to start with questions related to your tenure at the national security council and will relate to your responsibilities at the united nations, especially in international humanitarian relief. You presided over a period where elon musk was given a blank check to take what he called the chainsaw to aid.
▶ 2:07:17Sen. Van Hollen: As part of that undermined many ongoing humanitarian operations, including the one in sudan where the freezing of assistance resulted in the closure of nearly 80% of emergency food kitchens. 2 million people were left without access to food. Many of them died. That is not theoretical. I want to turn to another humanitarian disaster in gaza.
▶ 2:07:46Sen. Van Hollen: Of course the beretta situation and gaza was brought about as a result of the horrific hamas attacks of october 7, 2023. It's also true the government of israel has responsibility to conduct that work in accordance with -- war in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles. For 78 days there was a total humanitarian blockade on gaza, including a on food.
▶ 2:08:16Sen. Van Hollen: I did not hear you or president or secretary rubio ever call upon the netanyahu government publicly to and that blockade. -- end that blockade. They replaced the distribution of food through vetted international organizations, including the world food program that senator mccain heads.
▶ 2:08:40Sen. Van Hollen: They replaced it with a private entity, which is supported by mercenaries known as the gaza humanitarian foundation, a real misnomer. The organization's executive director resigned saying it was not possible to implement their plan while adhering to humanitarian principles. Cindy mccain said they don't have nearly enough access points. They don't have nearly enough food going in.
▶ 2:09:10Sen. Van Hollen: As you probably know, it has been called a deathtrap. Hundreds of palestinian civilians have been killed either by the security contractors, mercenaries or the idf. Why should american taxpayers be footing the bill, even part of the bill and support of the so-called gaza humanitarian foundation?
▶ 2:09:37Mr. Waltz: Thank you for the question, senator. To address your first question in terms of usaid and its current status, it is currently operating under the state department. I think it's a perfectly valid approach. Both the united kingdom and australians have done the same thing.
▶ 2:10:05Mr. Waltz: I cannot tell you how many times I have talked to a foreign service officer or ambassador in the field highly frustrated that aid was on a different page than their objectives in the country.
▶ 2:10:18Sen. Van Hollen: We have a strong disagreement. If you can answer about american taxpayer money for the private entity.
▶ 2:10:28Mr. Waltz: I would certainly extend an appreciation for veterans who just attacked with hamas with grenades trying to distribute aid that I understand work for this organization. I don't think this should be a zero-sum. I agree it's a humanitarian crisis in gaza. I hope you would agree hamas can stop it tomorrow by laying down their arms and releasing the hostages.
▶ 2:11:01Mr. Waltz: Special envoy wikoff and his efforts to bring a cease-fire, which he was able to bring.
▶ 2:11:09Sen. Van Hollen: You said you would end the war in gaza on day one.
▶ 2:11:10Mr. Waltz: The president said all hell to pay.
▶ 2:11:13Sen. Van Hollen: I'm asking you a question on the west bank. An american citizen was killed to the other day by settlers.
▶ 2:11:23Mr. Waltz: To be honest, with you I did not see the report.
▶ 2:11:28Sen. Van Hollen: Is it the responsibility of the U.S. government to ensure accommodating the deaths of american citizens overseas?
▶ 2:11:36Mr. Waltz: It's a key function of any embassy or ambassador to ensure U.S. citizens are protected abroad.
▶ 2:11:45Sen. Van Hollen: I hope we will pursue that. One of your first actions was to get rid of the biden era executive order that would impose sanctions on violent settlers and palestinian militants in the west bank. We've had five americans actually killed since october 7 in the west bank. No accountability. I think when you withdrew the executive order you sent about signal. I hope we can work together -- sent a bad signal.
▶ 2:12:16Sen. Van Hollen: I hope we can work together to protect all americans overseas.
▶ 2:12:18Sen. Paul: Do you believe president trump has the power to determine troop assignments?
▶ 2:12:25Mr. Waltz: Thank you, senator. The article to authority does.
▶ 2:12:33Sen. Paul: 10 the summer of 2020, there was discussion -- in the summer of 2020, there was discussion about president trump drawing down troops within afghanistan. You are serving on the armed services committee. Liz cheney put forward an amendment the tenting to circumscribe this power to assign troops. They had a conditions and you supported the amendment. Which is it?
▶ 2:13:00Sen. Paul: Does president trump have the power over the constitution to determine troops or congress should -- congress has the right to limit the power to remove troops?
▶ 2:13:12Mr. Waltz: Thank you. Hi supported -- I supported president trump's efforts to draw down forces and keep a lid on counterterrorism and keep --
▶ 2:13:29Sen. Paul: You voted for the jason crow amendment, the liz cheney and emmett to place restrictions on his ability to remove troops. Specifically, the them, that says they cannot draw down under 85 hundred troops.
▶ 2:13:44Mr. Waltz: I will have to to look at the amendment.
▶ 2:13:49Sen. Paul: It goes to the heart of the constitution and this is the problem in the thing I fear. Liz cheney wing, the neoconservatives, they believe in virtually unlimited article to authority to initiate war. There is no limit. The idea that congress should declare war is passé, old-fashioned. When it comes to ending the war, you voted with liz cheney and others to say the president could not end the war.
▶ 2:14:18Sen. Paul: He had to perform different reports. Here's what one of the reports said he had to do before he was allowed to remove troops. This is the cheney-crow amendment. Require a report concerning the status of women's access to voting, education, justice and economic opportunities. Support for women's right is great but is not typically given as a reason to go to war or stay at work.
▶ 2:14:44Sen. Paul: The amendment you voted for based the decision on whether or not he would have to explain himself as to how good or well it was going for women in afghanistan before congress would consent. The amendment says not allow him to move troops with dod funds. It was an incredible amendment. Congress actually voted to remove dod funds to let the president remove troops from the war theater.
▶ 2:15:12Sen. Paul: I'm a big fan of the limitation of presidential power on initiation of war. When we are at nor I've never quibble with a president's power to be the commander-in-chief. I can't see congress saying our women's rights for kernel wal tz? Let's have a congressional report on this. I don't understand how you could have voted for this.
▶ 2:15:41Sen. Paul: Congress forced president trump to -- I don't understand how you could have voted for this amendment.
▶ 2:15:51Mr. Waltz: I look forward to continuing our discussion we have. And there's a lot of room between where we have troops and if we are at war. We've had troops in columbia for quite some time and they are not engaged in combat. They are engaged in a training mission to help that government.
▶ 2:16:13Mr. Waltz: One thing at the time --
▶ 2:16:17Sen. Paul: We voted for an authorization. It's one of the few times I can think of I would have actually supported that resolution. Congress voted to send troops to afghanistan to get people who attacked us on 9/11, but you were willing to place restrictions on the president's ability to move troops around. The closet set based on how well the afghans were dealing with disabilities.
▶ 2:16:46Sen. Paul: I have a great deal with people with disabilities in our country but is not an issue of war. The type president trump's hands and say you can't remove troops until we discuss how well the afghan government is dealing with disabilities, can they deal with disabilities? You come more from the liz cheney wing of the party than the donald trump wing of the party.
▶ 2:17:12Mr. Waltz: Senator, I am squarely with the president, have been with him in every single election I participated in an him with me. In terms of the limits on hard power. I can tell you for certain the people who hate were the most have to fight and die from them and I never want to attend another funeral and I support the president's diplomacy.
▶ 2:17:45Mr. Waltz: We saw and will do everything I can if confirmed as ambassador to the united nations to keep us out of wars and in conflict.
▶ 2:17:52Chair Risch: Senator booker.
▶ 2:17:55Sen. Booker: I have watched this hearing and disappointed. What's troubling is your failure to stand up and take accountability for mistakes you made and all americans know you have made. Everyone in this room has made mistakes.
▶ 2:18:16Sen. Booker: What america expects from leaders, especially leaders tasked with our national security or could be tasked with a position for which you are nominated for is for people to stand up and take responsibility, take accountability. I heard you blame biden. I have seen you not only fail to stand up but lie.
▶ 2:18:41Sen. Booker: You said about this person involved in the sharing of sensitive information, I have listened to you now for weeks and months. You said this journalist intentionally infiltrated that signal chain. You said he was sucked in. You denied, deflected and then did something that to me really lacks integrity. You sought to demean and integrate that very journalist in crass and cruel ways that made him a target.
▶ 2:19:13Sen. Booker: That is not leadership. When you blame people who tell the truth is not leadership. When you cannot see the words I made a mistake. I could have done better. I learned valuable lesson from this experience. At a moment where our national security was clearly compromised, you denied, deflected and then demeaned and degraded those people who objectively told the truth and criticize your actions.
▶ 2:19:41Sen. Booker: Smearing people, attacking folks, signaling that out -- singling them out compounds what is disqualifying about you for this position. It shows profound cowardice. You should step up rightyou sho. I heard senator coons, I heard you being asked by senator kaine again and again to simply say I was wrong, I made a mistake.
▶ 2:20:09Sen. Booker: I take responsibility for my actions. Unfortunately, what you are doing to me is perfectly aligned with the way this administration as a whole has operated. I've never seen administration that has made no mistakes, can't learn constructively from things they did wrong. Has no sense of self interrogation or integrity. And should they be criticized legitimately, they go on the attack.
▶ 2:20:35Sen. Booker: We have too much of that rhetoric, that divisive, demeaning, degrading, coolness to be elevated and celebrated by this administration. I just watched with great disappointment that even after weeks if not months of reflection, you couldn't sit before this committee and take some responsibility. And talk constructively about what you've learned. Instead you do what seems to be yet another creative tool that people are doing which is let me just blame biden.
▶ 2:21:07Sen. Booker: I want to take another moment to discuss concerns I have with this administration's approach to the united nations and to dealings with african countries. Every country in the u.n. Gets one vote in the general assembly no matter how large or small it is.
▶ 2:21:26Sen. Booker: So diplomacy and staffing at our state department and their indices really matter but this administration is fired over 1350 staff at the state department including whole offices that spearheaded multilateral affairs. Sub-saharan africa has alone the number -- the member states of 49 votes. I've watched china has done everything they can to court support with the united nations and how we wonder why are so many countries voting against us?
▶ 2:21:53Sen. Booker: I said this to the secretary of state, we need to start prioritizing african nations, start focusing on what I believe is urgently within our national interest if not our national security interests. It seems to me that we are surrendering sub-saharan africa to china who is stepping up more and more in filling the void of their leadership. So I have no questions for you.
▶ 2:22:21Sen. Booker: I have nothing but deep disappointment in what I consider a failure of leadership on your part. God, america needs now more than ever -- forget the partisanship, just people to step up and show heart and integrity and honor. When you like, defer, deflect, demean and degrad journalists, to me it is absolutely on except will. Have no questions, I cannot support your nomination.
▶ 2:22:50Sen. Booker: I think you showed failure of leadership at a time in america especially needs people of honor to stand up and show what leadership actually is.
▶ 2:22:58Chair Risch: Senator scott? >> congratulations to each of you on your nominations and for your individual success. Each of the -- if each of you could just take a couple minutes and assume you get through this wonderful process and you get confirmed on the floor which is difficult right now, what would be success at the end of your time in these roles? Mike connelly will start with you.
▶ 2:23:22Mr. Waltz: Sure, thank you senator, I appreciate your support. I appreciate the men and women that I've had to lead in combat and I think the last thing you would call me as a coward. I appreciate deeply our relationship both for the good of florida and for the good of the country. What does success look like in the u.n.?
▶ 2:23:47Mr. Waltz: It looks like under the president and secretary's leadership, one, getting it back to actually solving problems. The things that we are seeing, the successes that we've seen under this president, a peace agreement in africa, resulting what could have been a nuclear exchange between pakistan and india, securing our border.
▶ 2:24:11Mr. Waltz: Even a water treaty that mexico wasn't honoring that we established in 1944 for south texas farmers. The ongoing efforts going from at least here to hear in terms of ukraine and russia and trying to end that horrific conflict. A cease-fire with israel and iran. It has been an amazing six months and it's just beginning. Those should be dealt with in the u.n.
▶ 2:24:40Mr. Waltz: That should be the place for coming together. We talked about the antisemitism that has to go, we talked about the reforms in terms of these 80 plus agencies with often duplicated and wasteful mandates. I want to give some time to my colleagues here, but if I did just those things done in support of secretary rubio and the president, I think we will have made a tremendous step forward.
▶ 2:25:11Mr. Waltz: >> thank you for that question. Our mission is to make united states stronger and more prosperous. I am thrilled to have the opportunity if approved, to represent the united states and sweden. I think sweden is a magnificent country, a magnificent partner of ours. I'm really anxious to look at our defense areas. Whether it is stopping the shadow fleet in the balkan or working on the arctic circle.
▶ 2:25:41Mr. Waltz: We forget that we are in arctic nation, and we need to make sure that we are active up there. China is partnering with russia and I want to make sure that we are focused up there and working through that with our nordic neighbors.
▶ 2:25:59Mr. Waltz: On the economic areas, I want to make sure that we continue to partner with our industries in the united states as well as those in sweden. We have some great partnerships right now with ericsson, telecommunications area. Boeing partnership is exceptional and I would like to build on that.
▶ 2:26:23Mr. Waltz: Ikea is continuing to invest in the united states and just recently we saw with the tsa that we will have commercial satellites being deployed from sweden with a commercial company called firefly. Those are a few things I'm looking forward to. Thank you for the question. >> thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me the other day. I've been sitting on the bench for several months.
▶ 2:26:53Mr. Waltz: I haven't done that in business or in sports my whole life. And I am ecstatic or maybe just overwhelmed with the fact that one day it confirmed I could get to be the mission that president trump and secretary rubio have entrusted to me. And I will let the people know, the amazing people that what they are going to get from, if confirmed, from this advancer is going to be a lot of empathy, passion, and a lot of common sense.
▶ 2:27:26Mr. Waltz: I have just the utmost respect for each and every one of them. I've talked to some of the people there, and I just know that they are going to see that in me and we are going to have wins. We have missions to accomplish. But I didn't come out of retirement to be miserable. Not everybody had -- not only are we going to have wins, but we are going to have fun doing it.
▶ 2:27:52Mr. Waltz: I'm not going to sit here right now -- I tell you, I feel like I'm a scholar of some but I'm a student of most. I will learn from those dedicated people in the embassy and I will just be there to enhance and to continue the great work that they've been doing over the last several years and I look forward, if confirmed, to being their leader. Thank you.
▶ 2:28:23Mr. Waltz: >> congratulations on each of your nominations, good luck.
▶ 2:28:25Chair Risch: I hope you will communicate to the swedish government much we appreciate their joining nato. They were disinclined to join nato for a long time, and we've been urging them for a long time to join nato. They bring some real attributes to the organization.
▶ 2:28:51Chair Risch: Frankly as I was fighting that battle, I told them I would rather trade them for both sweden and finland, which they weren't too happy to hear. But nonetheless, I hope you will carry that appreciation that we have when you get there, please. With that, senator rosen, you are up. Well, time is up.
▶ 2:29:23Senator Rosen: Again, thank you, Mr. chairman, I appreciate it. I just want to raise my deep concerns with the mass productions of force that took place in the state department on friday. I find it particularly troubling that many of those were let go. They worked on issues related to women, to human rights, and counterterrorism. I do look forward to discussing this more in-depth on this committee going forward.
▶ 2:29:55Senator Rosen: So congressman, I want to start with you because this morning it was reported despite being removed from your role as national security advisor in may , removed from your role, right, not working, surprisingly you've been on the white house payroll for the last few months. So throughout this hearing you made asser tatian's that if confirmed, you would root out waste and unnecessary overhead at the u.n. So can you confirm for us whether for and receiving a salary from the white house being let go in the nsa?
▶ 2:30:27Mr. Waltz: Thank you senator. I was not fired, the president never said that nor did the vice president, I was kept on as an advisor, transitioning in number of important activities and now I hope to be confirmed. >> so you were not dismissed from your role as was public the reported?
▶ 2:30:53Mr. Waltz: It's also been publicly reported that you've been receiving almost $200,000 in taxpayer money and you were dismissed from being the national security advisor.
▶ 2:30:59Mr. Waltz: The reporting is fake news which shouldn't surprise anyone. The president was clear, his announcement was -- >> you know fake news can't be the answer to everything. So we are going to move on to unesco because we've got a lot to talk about there. Undoubtedly, unesco has its flaws. Including the history of anti-israel bias. But the U.S. is also played a key role in defending israel with the human agency.
▶ 2:31:28Mr. Waltz: So the uss culture votes against him bounds resolutions and supported efforts that promote international holocaust education, literacy programs, scientific innovation, and protect and restore cultural heritage sites. Since rejoining unesco, the U.S. is also successfully included references to hamas' october 7 terrorist attack in the plight of the hostages in unesco. Documents. However during times of U.S.
▶ 2:31:54Mr. Waltz: Withdrawal from unesco, china has stepped up its own engagement, becoming unesco's largest financial contributor in using this form to push its own priorities. We know they are contrary to ours. So congressman, how might maintaining a presence in unesco support its work on U.S.
▶ 2:32:16Mr. Waltz: Priorities like holocaust education, press freedom, although the other things that I just mentioned, while ensuring that the prc does not continue to expand influence within the body, and how can our membership and unesco continue to provide a set platform for countering any future anti-israel actions and I would say terrorism overall?
▶ 2:32:38Mr. Waltz: Thank you congresswoman. Excuse me, thank you senator, and they certainly support as I mentioned to the ranking member any initiative to block and tackle chinese communist party influence throughout any of these organizations.
▶ 2:33:01Mr. Waltz: However, I do think we have to review closely our membership in these organizations if we are getting return to the taxpayer dollars, if they are in line with our interests. As you know in the first term we withdrew from unesco and with president reagan we withdrew from unesco and often it can be unhelpful to both israel and the united states on the world stage dark out you think you would recommend to secretary rubio we withdraw from unesco?
▶ 2:33:26Mr. Waltz: If confirmed I will engage with secretary rubio and engage in that review but as you know it is currently under review. >> so I'm sorry, withdrawing from unesco, I want to go back to that because there is a mandated view of united states for the patient and explicit that requires the U.S. ambassador to the u.n. To consult with the secretary of state, so we will look forward to that report from you on that.
▶ 2:33:55Mr. Waltz: I do have some questions about women in ukraine but I know that senator barrasso is here so you are kind enough to leave it open.
▶ 2:34:02Chair Risch: Appreciate that. Thank you to our witnesses for being here, and I'm going to keep the records open close of business tomorrow for questions for the record which I would appreciate if you could answer them promptly.
▶ 2:34:23Chair Risch: Further, we have not -- again, thank you to you and your families for your gracious willingness to serve your country. We have letters we've received in support of the witnesses which I will order included in the record. With that, the hearing is adjourned. ♪