Trump appoints secretary of state
Republican Senator Marco Rubio has been appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as his secretary of state, an announcement made on Wednesday. Read Full Article at RT.com
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Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has stated that he will “work every day” to implement the president-elect’s “foreign policy agenda."
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his nominee for secretary of state. Known as a China hawk, Rubio has long been viewed as a leading contender for this role.
In a statement announced on Wednesday, Trump characterized Rubio as “a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.” Rubio expressed his gratitude on social media, affirming that he feels “honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me,” and reiterated his commitment to “work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda.”
Rubio and Trump had a contentious rivalry during the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, where Rubio was ultimately unsuccessful. Despite this, he has since aligned himself with Trump, though his foreign policy perspectives often skew more neoconservative compared to Trump’s “America First” approach to foreign relations.
Rubio supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which Trump criticized as a “big, fat mistake.” Additionally, he endorsed US military intervention in Libya, military support for anti-government jihadists in Syria, and advocated for stricter sanctions against Iran. In 2018, Rubio did not dismiss the idea of supporting US intervention in Venezuela.
While Rubio was initially a strong advocate for military aid to Ukraine, his stance has evolved to be more in line with Trump’s views on the conflict. He opposed a foreign aid bill earlier this year that encompassed roughly $60 billion for Ukraine and articulated last week that the situation had reached a “stalemate” and “needs to be brought to a conclusion.”
In September, he remarked that although he was “not on Russia’s side,” it is a fact that the end of the war in Ukraine would likely come about through a negotiated settlement.
Both Rubio and Trump are proponents of stringent policies towards China. Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese imports, and Rubio has urged the administration to prohibit sales of components to Chinese tech giant Huawei while promising military assistance to Taiwan. He identified China’s economic and military ascendance as “without a doubt the singular geopolitical issue of the 21st century” in 2022.
Rubio is not the only Florida Republican nominated for a high-ranking position. Shortly after announcing Rubio's selection as top diplomat, Trump nominated Representative Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Gaetz, a staunch conservative, has continuously accused current Attorney General Merrick Garland of “weaponizing” the justice system against Trump, and has labeled those connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot as “political prisoners.”
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his nominee for secretary of state. Known as a China hawk, Rubio has long been viewed as a leading contender for this role.
In a statement announced on Wednesday, Trump characterized Rubio as “a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.” Rubio expressed his gratitude on social media, affirming that he feels “honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me,” and reiterated his commitment to “work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda.”
Rubio and Trump had a contentious rivalry during the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, where Rubio was ultimately unsuccessful. Despite this, he has since aligned himself with Trump, though his foreign policy perspectives often skew more neoconservative compared to Trump’s “America First” approach to foreign relations.
Rubio supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which Trump criticized as a “big, fat mistake.” Additionally, he endorsed US military intervention in Libya, military support for anti-government jihadists in Syria, and advocated for stricter sanctions against Iran. In 2018, Rubio did not dismiss the idea of supporting US intervention in Venezuela.
While Rubio was initially a strong advocate for military aid to Ukraine, his stance has evolved to be more in line with Trump’s views on the conflict. He opposed a foreign aid bill earlier this year that encompassed roughly $60 billion for Ukraine and articulated last week that the situation had reached a “stalemate” and “needs to be brought to a conclusion.”
In September, he remarked that although he was “not on Russia’s side,” it is a fact that the end of the war in Ukraine would likely come about through a negotiated settlement.
Both Rubio and Trump are proponents of stringent policies towards China. Trump has threatened to increase tariffs on Chinese imports, and Rubio has urged the administration to prohibit sales of components to Chinese tech giant Huawei while promising military assistance to Taiwan. He identified China’s economic and military ascendance as “without a doubt the singular geopolitical issue of the 21st century” in 2022.
Rubio is not the only Florida Republican nominated for a high-ranking position. Shortly after announcing Rubio's selection as top diplomat, Trump nominated Representative Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Gaetz, a staunch conservative, has continuously accused current Attorney General Merrick Garland of “weaponizing” the justice system against Trump, and has labeled those connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot as “political prisoners.”
Allen M Lee contributed to this report for TROIB News
