The Senate shortly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to present President Donald Trump the primary member of his new Cupboard on Inauguration Day.
Rubio, the Republican senator from Florida, is among the many least controversial of Trump’s nominees and vote was decisive, 99-0. One other choose, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, can be anticipated to have a swift vote. Motion on others, together with former fight veteran and Fox Information host Pete Hegseth for protection secretary, is anticipated later within the week.
“Marco Rubio is a really clever man with a exceptional understanding of American international coverage,” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the senior-most Republican, mentioned because the chamber opened.
US Senator Marco Rubio arrives forward of trump’s inauguration because the forty seventh president of the USA within the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.
Picture by KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL/AFP through Getty Pictures
It is typically custom for the Senate to convene instantly after the ceremonial pomp of the inauguration to start placing the brand new president’s workforce in place, significantly the nationwide safety officers. Throughout Trump’s first time period, the Senate swiftly confirmed his protection and homeland safety secretaries on day one, and President Joe Biden’s selection for director of nationwide intelligence was confirmed on his personal Inauguration Day.
With Trump’s return to the White Home, and his Republican Celebration controlling majorities in Congress, his outsider Cupboard decisions are extra clearly falling into place, regardless of preliminary skepticism and opposition from each side of the aisle.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune moved shortly Monday, saying he anticipated voting to start “imminently” on Trump’s nominees.
Democrats have calculated it is higher for them to be seen as extra prepared to work with Trump, reasonably than merely mounting a blockade to his nominees. They’re holding their opposition for a few of his different picks who’ve much less help, together with Tulsi Gabbard for director of nationwide intelligence and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for well being secretary.
Senate Democratic Chief Chuck Schumer mentioned his celebration will “neither rubber-stamp nominees we really feel are grossly unqualified, nor oppose nominees that deserve critical consideration.”
Rubio, he mentioned, is an instance of “a professional nominee we expect must be confirmed shortly.”
Senate committees have been holding prolonged affirmation hearings on greater than a dozen of the Cupboard nominees, with extra to return this week. And a number of other panels are anticipated to satisfy late Monday to start voting to advance the nominees to the complete Senate for affirmation.
The Senate Overseas Relations Committee superior Rubio’s nomination late Monday. The Senate Armed Companies Committee and Senate Intelligence Committee, respectively, superior the nominations of Hegseth and Ratcliffe.
Rubio, a popular senator and former Trump rival through the 2016 presidential race, has drawn nearer to the president lately. He appeared final week to reply questions earlier than the Overseas Relations Committee, the place he has spent greater than a decade as a member.
As secretary of state, Rubio could be the nation’s high diplomat, and the primary Latino to carry the place. Born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, he has lengthy been concerned in international affairs, significantly in South America, and has emerged as a hawk on China’s rise.
Throughout his affirmation listening to final week, Rubio warned of the implications of America’s “unbalanced relationship” with China. Whereas he echoes Trump’s anti-globalist rhetoric, Rubio can be seen as an internationalist who understands the ability of U.S. involvement on the worldwide stage.
Rubio is prone to win bipartisan help from each Republicans and Democrats. He would take over for outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has mentioned he hopes the Trump administration continues Biden’s insurance policies within the Center East to finish the battle in Gaza and to assist Ukraine counter Russian nomination.
The Senate is break up 53-47, however the resignation of Vice President JD Vance drops the GOP majority to 52 till his successor arrives. Republicans want nearly all each celebration member in line to beat Democratic opposition to nominees.
Objection from anybody senator, as is anticipated with Hegseth and a number of other different decisions, would drive the Senate into procedural steps that may drag voting later into the week.
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