U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Senator Marco Rubio (R. Fla.) yesterday to become Secretary of State in his upcoming administration, according to media reports.
“It is my great honor to announce that Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is nominated to be the United States Secretary of State,” Trump stated. “Marco is a highly respected leader and a powerful voice for freedom. He will be a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down from our adversaries.”
Rubio, 53, who is Cuban American, is known for his hawkish foreign policy positions on countries including China, Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela. He is the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. If confirmed, Rubio would be the first Latino to serve as Secretary of State. Rubio would take on the role of top U.S. diplomat, navigating key issues such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict and Israel-Hamas war, under Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Rubio morphed from a former rival of Trump to a close ally, to the point of even being considered for Trump’s vice-presidential running mate earlier this year.
“Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility, and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me,” Rubio said. “As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under President Trump’s leadership, we will achieve peace through strength and always put American interests first.”
Throughout his career, Rubio has supported strong positions on China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela. Although he supports Ukraine’s defense against Russia, he recently suggested the conflict will likely end through negotiations, a view shared by Trump.
In recent years, Rubio has aligned more closely with Trump’s policies, adopting a stricter position on immigration. Previously part of a bipartisan group seeking immigration reform, Rubio now supports Trump’s proposal for mass deportations and voted against a recent bipartisan border security bill.
Rubio and Trump, fierce rivals as presidential candidates in the 2016 primaries, quickly mended their rift as Rubio collaborated during Trump’s first term on key foreign policy initiatives, especially in Latin America.
If confirmed, Rubio would leave a vacancy in the US Senate before his term is up, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis having to appoint an interim replacement before the next elections. Potential candidates include Florida Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez, Attorney General Ashley Moody, and Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, according to news reports.
Rubio is one of a multitude of nominees selected in the last week for Trump’s fast-forming administration. These include Susie Wiles, Trump’s campaign manager, as Chief of Staff, Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador, Stephen Miller as Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser, and Mike Huckabee as US Ambassador to Israel.