WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate shortly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to offer 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 decide, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, can also 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 predicted later within the week.
“Marco Rubio is a really clever man with a exceptional understanding of American overseas coverage,” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the senior-most Republican, stated because the chamber opened.
It’s typically custom for the Senate to convene instantly after the ceremonial pomp of the inauguration to start placing the brand new president’s crew in place, notably 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 selections are extra clearly falling into place, regardless of preliminary skepticism and opposition from either 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 keen to work with Trump, fairly than merely mounting a blockade to his nominees. They’re holding their opposition for a few of his different picks who’ve much less assist, 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 stated his get together will “neither rubber-stamp nominees we really feel are grossly unqualified, nor oppose nominees that deserve critical consideration.”
Rubio, he stated, is an instance of “a professional nominee we predict needs to be confirmed shortly.”
Senate committees have been holding prolonged affirmation hearings on greater than a dozen of the Cupboard nominees, with extra to come back 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 International Relations Committee superior Rubio’s nomination late Monday. The Senate Armed Providers Committee and Senate Intelligence Committee, respectively, superior the nominations of Hegseth and Ratcliffe.
Rubio, a popular senator and former Trump rival in the course of the 2016 presidential race, has drawn nearer to the president lately. He appeared final week to reply questions earlier than the International Relations Committee, the place he has spent greater than a decade as a member.
As secretary of state, Rubio could be the nation’s prime diplomat, and the primary Latino to carry the place. Born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, he has lengthy been concerned in overseas affairs, notably 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 also be seen as an internationalist who understands the facility of U.S. involvement on the worldwide stage.
Rubio is prone to win bipartisan assist from each Republicans and Democrats. He would take over for outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has stated 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 get together member in line to beat Democratic opposition to nominees.
Objection from anyone senator, as is predicted with Hegseth and a number of other different selections, would power the Senate into procedural steps that will drag voting later into the week.
