Failure doesn’t have to kill ambition. Mike Waltz ought to know.After the infamous Signal chat debacle, which contributed to President Donald Trump's decision to oust him as national security adviser, Waltz was sent to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Instead of hiding at the struggling global institution in New York, Waltz has seized chances to stay in the spotlight, from hosting hip-hop royalty to warning Cuba’s leaders to “change your ways” to blitzing the Sunday shows defending the U.S.-Israel war in Iran.Next week, Waltz will find himself near the cameras again as Trump attends the U.N. General Assembly’s annual gathering of world leaders. It’s an opportunity for Waltz to get facetime with Trump as well as other heads of state in an array of settings. Maybe he will even pass out his team’s popular “MUNGA” hats (“Make the U.N. Great Again”).My understanding is that Waltz is thinking well beyond the corridors of Turtle Bay.Around Washington, there’s speculation that he might someday go for a Senate seat from Florida, and no one rules out a presidential run. I’ve also heard he wouldn’t mind a quicker return to the capital. The late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told people that Waltz had sought his support in becoming secretary of State should Marco Rubio, whom many pols suspect has presidential aspirations, leave the role. I heard this directly from two people Graham told in separate conversations, one of whom is a Republican elected official. One of them said their conversation with Graham took place several weeks before the senator died on July 11. Graham indicated that he’d spoken with Waltz very recently, the person said.Like many who spoke for this piece, I granted them anonymity to talk about sensitive matters.Asked about Waltz’s talk with Graham, Waltz’s office insisted in a statement: “This conversation never happened. It’s completely fake.” The office criticized POLITICO for reporting on the matter given that there’s no way for the late senator to refute it. Waltz’s office didn’t respond to questions about whether he had any other political aspirations.An aide to the late Graham did not respond to my emails seeking comment.Many people have had second, third or 15th lives in the era of Trump. The president prizes loyalty, or at least likes a good groveler. Waltz stands out, though, because he’s not widely despised or — the Signal screw-up aside — considered incompetent. If anything,… [TheTopNews] Read More.
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