Donald Trump has chosen U.S. Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State, according to a report from The New York Times on Monday. The selection positions the Florida-born senator to become the first Latino to serve as America’s top diplomat when Trump takes office in January.
Known for his hawkish stance, Rubio was one of the most assertive foreign policy advocates on Trump’s shortlist. Throughout his career, he has pushed for a strong U.S. response to adversaries like China, Iran, and Cuba.
In recent years, however, Rubio has softened some of these views to better align with Trump’s approach, which calls for a more cautious and cost-conscious foreign policy to avoid the entangling conflicts of previous administrations.
As the new administration faces an increasingly complex global landscape, Rubio’s immediate priorities are expected to include the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as managing China’s tightening alliances with Russia and Iran.
Rubio is a strong supporter of Israel and has repeatedly called for standing with Israel, stressing the need to destroy Hamas. He served on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee.
The expected secretary of state also encouraged Israel to respond "disproportionately" to the Iranian attack. "The terrorist Iranian regime seeks to dominate the Middle East through death, chaos, and ultimately, the total destruction of Israel," Rubio declared.