A top aide for Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fl.) is slated to join the Trump administration National Security Council, two people familiar with the plan confirmed.
President-elect Donald Trump plans to name Andrew Peek, a veteran of the first Trump administration, as senior director for Europe and Eurasia at the NSC, the people said, though they cautioned that the appointment wasn’t yet settled. They were granted anonymity to discuss internal transition matters.
Peek, if picked, would play an outsized role in crafting the Trump administration’s approach toward Russia, the war in Ukraine and NATO. Trump has vowed to broker peace in Ukraine soon after entering office, but has yet to outline a detailed plan on how to do so.
Peek is currently national security adviser for Waltz, Trump’s pick to be his own national security adviser once he enters the White House next month.
A U.S. Army veteran, Peek served in the first Trump administration State Department handling Middle East policy and then at the National Security Council managing European issues before reportedly being removed from the role over a security investigation. Peek has a top secret clearance that was never suspended or revoked, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Peek declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Trump transition did not respond to a request for comment.
CBS News previously reported that Peek is joining the NSC, but did not provide details on what role he would play.