Mike Waltz

Stories

The US capture of Nicolás Maduro

Defended Venezuela operation at UN Security Council emergency session

Delta Force operators captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a pre-dawn Caracas raid on January 3, 2026. Maduro pleaded not guilty in Manhattan and is jailed in Brooklyn awaiting a June 1, 2027 trial, while Delcy Rodríguez remains acting president and has not set an election date.

Updated 4 days ago

UN extends Darfur arms embargo for two months as US expansion bid fails

Rule Changes

As of October 2026: Leading the administration's push for a nationwide embargo

The UN Security Council extended its arms embargo on Sudan's Darfur region by two months this week. A US push to broaden the embargo to all of Sudan failed, blocked by Russia and China.

Updated Oct 10

End of protected status for Haitians brings deportations and family separations

Rule Changes

As of September 2026: Publicly described conditions in Haiti before UN Security Council

Harriett Cecilia Joseph built a life in Springfield, Ohio: a quality-control job, her own event-planning business. On a Monday in August, her work permit expired and her legal status vanished, the result of a Supreme Court ruling that let the Trump administration end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.

Updated Sep 15

U.S. builds new blacklist to punish countries that hold Americans hostage

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Challenged Taliban at UN Security Council

The United States has designated Afghanistan as a 'state sponsor of wrongful detention,' accusing the Taliban of holding Americans as bargaining chips. Afghanistan is the second country on the blacklist, created by a September 2025 executive order.

Updated May 30

Iran's regime faces its gravest challenge since 1979

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Presented U.S. position at Security Council

Bazaar merchants bankrolled Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. Now they're in the streets demanding its end.

Updated May 22

Doha draws the blueprint for a Gaza stabilization force—before anyone agrees to send troops

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Arguing the mandate allows force to enforce demilitarization

A Gaza force is being designed like it's real, but the December 16 Doha conference exposed disagreements over mandate and composition—U.S. Central Command convened 40+ countries to plan command structure, basing, and rules of engagement, yet failed to achieve consensus. Italy is the only country to formally commit troops; 15 nations declined and Turkey was excluded at Israel's insistence.

Updated May 15

Israel deploys Iron Dome batteries to UAE amid Iran war

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Made parallel remarks the night before Huckabee's disclosure

Israel and the United Arab Emirates kept any military cooperation hidden for decades. Now Israeli soldiers are operating air-defense radars and missile launchers on Emirati soil.

Updated May 12

Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan hits a critical test over who governs and who disarms

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Led the U.S. push at the UN Security Council to endorse Trump’s Gaza plan and authorise the Board of Peace and International Stabilization Force

Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel triggered a war that lasted more than two years. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect October 10, 2025. At least 460 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,200 injured since the truce began.

Updated May 10

Notable Quotes

"I just cannot underemphasize the brutality that these gangs are imparting upon their own people."

from End of protected status for Haitians brings deportations and family separations · Updated Sep 15

The Taliban's actions demonstrate bad faith and have made the U.S. deeply skeptical of their willingness to meet their international commitments or respect Afghanistan's international obligations. — UN Security Council remarks, March 9, 2026

from U.S. builds new blacklist to punish countries that hold Americans hostage · Updated May 30

"Everyone in the world needs to know that the regime is weaker than ever before. They are afraid. They're afraid of their own people."

from Iran's regime faces its gravest challenge since 1979 · Updated May 22

"Obviously that'll be a conversation with each country." (Mike Waltz, on rules of engagement)

from Doha draws the blueprint for a Gaza stabilization force—before anyone agrees to send troops · Updated May 15

Waltz described the Security Council resolution as 'historic and constructive', saying it would chart 'a new course in the Middle East' and extend the current truce.

from Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan hits a critical test over who governs and who disarms · Updated May 10