US Senator Marco Rubio is thought for his hawkish views on China and staunch help of Israel.
United States President-elect Donald Trump is predicted to appoint Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, a number of media shops have reported.
Trump on Monday appeared to have settled on Rubio, although he may nonetheless change his thoughts, shops together with The New York Occasions, CNN, CBS Information and Reuters reported, quoting unnamed sources conversant in the choice.
Rubio, who is thought for his hawkish overseas coverage views, could be the primary Hispanic American to function Washington’s high diplomat if appointed to the position.
Different names who’ve been tipped as candidates for the position in media studies embody Richard Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany throughout Trump’s first time period, and Robert O’Brien, Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser.
Rubio, who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the International Relations Committee, is the newest determine tipped to work underneath Trump because the make-up of his incoming administration quickly takes form.
Trump on Monday named Tom Homan, a former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as his “border czar”, and Elise Stefanik, a Home Republican from New York, as ambassador to the United Nations.
Since his election to the US Senate in 2010, Rubio has staked out a fame for holding hardline views on US adversaries akin to China, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.
He has additionally staunchly backed Israel’s warfare in Gaza, telling a peace activist final yr that Hamas was “100% responsible” for the deaths of Palestinians within the enclave.
“I need them to destroy each aspect of Hamas they will get their palms on,” Rubio stated in a confrontation with Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin in December.
“These individuals are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes and I hope you guys publish that as a result of that’s my place.”
Throughout his unsuccessful presidential marketing campaign in 2016, Rubio clashed with Trump, mocking his then-rival over the scale of his palms and saying he would “make America orange” as an alternative of nice once more.
Rubio later backed Trump because the Republican nominee in 2016 and acted as an in depth adviser on overseas coverage to the previous president throughout his unsuccessful 2020 run.
Throughout Trump’s newest bid for the White Home, Rubio was floated as a doable vice-presidential decide and appeared with him at numerous occasions on the marketing campaign path.