President-elect Trump made official his choice to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as secretary of State on Wednesday, slotting his former rival into his administration’s top diplomatic role.
Trump in a statement praised Rubio as 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 (Israel), and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” (Iran) he added.
The Florida senator is seen as a foreign policy hawk who is tough on China and Iran. In a September interview with NBC, Rubio said it was apparent the war between Ukraine and Russia would end “with a negotiated settlement.”
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have given the Rubio choice a warm reception since it was first reported late Monday. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) signaled he would vote to confirm Rubio, and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) called Rubio “smart, talented” and “a strong voice for American interests around the globe.”