The Senate confirmed Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as the next secretary of state in a 99-0 vote, making him the first of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks to receive congressional approval. The vote followed a unanimous recommendation earlier in the day by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Rubio, a senator since 2011 and a first-generation Cuban American, brings a strong foreign policy background to the role. He has served on both the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees.
During his confirmation hearing, Rubio addressed several international issues. He called the ongoing conflict in Ukraine a “stalemate” that must end, urging both Russia and Ukraine to make concessions in any future peace deal. He also stressed the importance of NATO, despite Trump’s previous criticisms of the alliance. On the Israel-Hamas conflict, Rubio affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself. He also often singled out China’s growing threat to the U.S.
“We are once again called to create a free world out of the chaos,” Rubio said. “This will not be easy, and it will be impossible without a strong and confident America that engages in the world, putting our core national interests once again above all else.”
With his confirmation, Rubio assumes a challenging role amid significant international tensions, including the war in Ukraine, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, and rising challenges from China, which the former FBI director called “the threat of our generation.”
Rubio’s confirmation process was less controversial than many of Trump’s other cabinet picks. During his confirmation hearing, Rubio received praise from both sides of the aisle, including New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. That support carried into the full Senate vote, where Rubio was approved unanimously.
Another Trump pick, John Ratcliffe, for CIA director, is expected to be confirmed quickly as soon as Tuesday, Jan. 21.
