Overview

• The U.S. Senate confirmed Matthew Whitaker as ambassador to NATO in a 52-45 vote late Tuesday night.
• Whitaker, a former acting attorney general under Trump, has a background in law enforcement but limited foreign policy experience, raising concerns among some lawmakers.
• During his confirmation hearing, Whitaker emphasized the Trump administration's 'ironclad' commitment to NATO while advocating for allies to boost defense spending to at least 5% of their GDP.
• President Trump praised Whitaker as a 'strong warrior and loyal patriot' who will prioritize advancing U.S. interests within the alliance.
• Whitaker's first major task as ambassador will be attending a NATO summit in Brussels alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where U.S. leadership and alliance dynamics will be key topics.