President-elect Donald Trump is likely to appoint Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, according to reports from The New York Times. While the decision is not yet final, sources indicate that Trump has chosen Rubio, a loyal supporter whom he previously passed over for the vice presidential spot.
Rubio has emerged as a top contender for the role of leading U.S. diplomacy, alongside former ambassador to Germany, Ric Grenell. Over the past week, Rubio has consistently been named as one of the frontrunners for the position.
As Secretary of State, Rubio would play a key role in implementing Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, which includes ending ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and avoiding further military entanglements for the U.S. abroad.
Florida Senator Rick Scott congratulated Rubio on X (formerly Twitter), praising him for his potential to “restore American leadership worldwide, especially in Latin America, with dignity and courage.”
Rubio’s potential nomination represents a significant shift in his relationship with Trump, marking a remarkable turnaround. During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Rubio called Trump a “con artist” and “the most vulgar person to ever run for president,” while Trump mocked Rubio as “Little Marco.”
However, Rubio has become one of the most vocal U.S. senators on foreign policy, particularly regarding Cuba and Latin America. He has also been a fierce critic of China, viewing it as a growing threat to U.S. interests. Rubio has advocated for tougher regulations on Chinese companies operating in the U.S. and led efforts to hold China accountable for human rights violations against the Uyghur minority.
Unlike Trump’s more unconventional approach to foreign policy, Rubio offers a more traditional stance. While Trump has suggested Taiwan should pay “protection money,” Rubio has strongly supported Taiwan’s self-governance and predicted that a second Trump term would ensure its defense against China.
Rubio, born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, earned a political science degree from the University of Florida in 1993. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, supported by the Tea Party movement, a far-right faction of the Republican Party formed after Barack Obama’s election.
Trump, promising global stability through American strength, has left many wondering how he intends to end the war in Ukraine, as his approach remains unclear. European allies and Ukraine are concerned about potential unilateral U.S. moves.
In addition, reports suggest Trump is preparing to appoint Florida Congress member Michael Waltz, a former special forces veteran and China critic, as National Security Advisor. Waltz has voiced concerns over China’s military build-up, calling it an “existential struggle” for the U.S. and warning of a “Nazi Germany-style” threat from China.
