Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., retired from Congress on Monday to serve as President Trump's national security adviser — a long-awaited move he announced just an hour before Trump was sworn in as president.
Waltz had confirmed to Fox News his plans to resign Opening day before Trump's inauguration, a decision that narrowed the Republican majority in the House of Representatives to only 218-215.
Staff prepare for the inauguration of President Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via Reuters)
“As I prepare to assume my duties as National Security Advisor to the President-elect, Donald J. Trump, “I hereby formally announce my resignation from the United States House of Representatives, effective January 20, 2025,” Waltz said in a letter announcing his decision.
“I intend to complete my term in the 118th Congress, and be sworn in to the 118th Congress. I have also provided notice to Governor Ron DeSantis informing him of my resignation.”
A special election to replace Valls is scheduled for April.
News of his resignation in the House of Representatives comes at a time when House Republicans are struggling to unite amid divisions within the party over government spending, loyalty to Trump, and other differences in ideology.
'Hell no': House Democrats explode over GOP spending deal
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to reporters in Congress before lawmakers vote on a new spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)
These divisions were on clear display during the election of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles, earlier in January, and during the massive spending bill in December that Narrowly avoided a government shutdown.
Trump praised Mike Waltz's more than 25 years of experience in the Army Special Forces. Here, Waltz was filmed in Afghanistan. (Mike Waltz)
Waltz, a former Green Beret who served in both the White House and the Pentagon, was appointed by Trump in the fall of 2024 to serve as national security adviser.
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Trump praised Waltz's more than 25 years of experience in Army Special Forces, noting that he “has been deployed numerous times in combat and has earned four Bronze Stars, including two for valor.”
Fox News Digital's Haley Chi Singh contributed to this report.
