Both men issued statements.
Trump: “It is my Great Honor to announce that Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be the United States Secretary of State. Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very 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 to our adversaries. I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again!”
Rubio: “Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility, and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me. As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else. I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the U.S. Senate so the President has his national security and foreign policy team in place when he takes office on January 20.”
USA Today notes that Rubio, an opponent of Trump in the 2015-2016 primaries, has hefty experience in foreign policy and had also made it to the short list for Trump’s running mate this time around (“Trump taps Marco Rubio for Secretary of State,” November 13, 2024).
The high-profile appointment is still subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Senate—though there will likely be few headaches given Republicans’ 53-seat majority in the chamber next year and Rubio’s longstanding relationships in the Senate.
A couple of days ago, ABC News reported:
Rubio and Waltz are both staunch China hawks. In fact, Rubio was sanctioned twice by Beijing in 2020 and may still be banned from entering China.
Naming Rubio and Waltz is a “strong sign that Trump’s foreign policy priority will focus on China above all else,” said Neil Thomas, a fellow for Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. Though there will be a near-term focus on finding a resolution to the wars overseas, “over the next four years, China—by far and away—will be the major focus,” he said.
U.S. Representative Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret, is Trump’s choice as national security advisor. Trump described him as “a nationally recognized leader in National Security, a bestselling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism.”
Also see:
StopTheChinazis.org: “ ‘Foreign Policy Hawk’ Marco Rubio May Be Trump’s Secretary of State”
