At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, President Trump’s nominees for three ambassadorial posts — Representative Michael Waltz to the United Nations, Christine Toretti to Sweden and John Arrigo to Portugal — outlined their qualifications and priorities as senators pressed them on reforming the United Nations, countering Chinese influence and ensuring U.S. taxpayer funds are well spent.

Committee members opened with introductions and endorsements. Senator Lindsey Graham recommended John Arrigo for Portugal, saying, “If you’re a country, you want somebody as the ambassador of the United States that has a line to President Trump,” and praising Arrigo’s business background. Senator Mike Lee and Senator Tim Scott supported Representative Michael Waltz for the UN post; Lee called Waltz “one of the most well qualified United Nations nominees ever.”

Waltz, a former U.S. representative and Army Green Beret, told the committee he would press for what he described as a return to the UN’s charter and core peacemaking functions. “We must return to the UN’s charter and first principles,” Waltz said, and he urged reforms to peacekeeping mandates, staff levels and budgeting. Waltz and several senators said the United States pays a disproportionate share of UN costs — Chairman James Risch noted that the U.S. pays about 22% of the regular UN budget and roughly 25% of peacekeeping — and that greater transparency and oversight are needed.

Senators from both parties raised China’s expanding role in international organizations. Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen warned that disengagement would cede ground to the People’s Republic of China and said, “If we walk away from international bodies like the UN, the result won’t be reforms that advance American interests.” Waltz agreed that countering China would be central to the post and said he would work with allies to challenge Chinese personnel and influence at standards-setting bodies.

Several senators pressed Waltz on alleged bias and antisemitism at UN bodies and on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Waltz described the prevalence of anti‑Israel resolutions in recent General Assemblies and supported measures to increase accountability; he said he backs administration steps to withhold funds from UN bodies that, in his view, fail to meet American standards.

The hearing also turned to broader U.S. foreign‑assistance and diplomatic staffing decisions. Senator Chris Murphy and others criticized recent reductions to U.S. international engagement and media and public diplomacy programs, mentioning cuts at the U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Global Engagement Center. Waltz said the administration had questioned effectiveness and metrics at some agencies and defended a reallocation of resources while acknowledging the need to “win the information war.”

Representative Waltz faced sustained questions about a public reporting episode in which sensitive operational details were published after material posted to a Signal chat was shared with a reporter. When asked whether classified information had been shared, Waltz said, “There was no classified information shared,” and referred to ongoing reviews at the White House and Defense Department.

Nominee John Arrigo described ties between the United States and Portugal, highlighted tourism and Portuguese‑American links, and said he would work to increase Portugal’s defense spending and to address Chinese investment in strategic sectors. Christine Toretti emphasized economic and defense cooperation with Sweden and pledged to prioritize the safety of Americans abroad, strengthen commercial ties and deepen security cooperation following Sweden’s accession to NATO.

Senators left the record open for additional questions and submitted letters supporting the nominees. The committee did not hold an immediate confirmation vote during the hearing; members said they would continue reviews and consult with the administration on specific reform and funding proposals.

The record in this hearing remains open until close of business the following day, and senators indicated follow‑up on UN budget and staffing reviews, snapback sanctions related to Iran and additional documentation on USAID and humanitarian distribution issues would be requested.