Marco Rubio on a smooth path to Senate confirmation as next secretary of state : NPR

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., testifies throughout his Senate Overseas Relations affirmation listening to on Jan. 15.

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We’re following the affirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics protection, and observe NPR’s Trump’s Phrases podcast or join our Politics e-newsletter to remain updated.

Who: Marco Rubio

Nominated for: secretary of state

You may know him from: The Senate and because the prime Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was additionally a candidate within the 2016 GOP presidential major race, the place Trump dubbed him “Little Marco” and Rubio warned voters to not help Trump, saying “pals don’t let pals vote for con artists.”

Extra about Rubio:

• He could be the primary Latino within the submit.
• He’s identified for hawkish stances on China, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. 
• His interventionist overseas coverage positions put him at odds with Trump, however now says he’ll observe the president’s lead.

What does this position do: The secretary of state is fourth in line of succession to the president and the highest Cupboard place. The secretary oversees U.S. overseas coverage.

What’s occurred on the listening to:

Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio drew bipartisan help amongst Senate Overseas Relations Committee members at a listening to Wednesday and seems headed for affirmation below President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Committee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho, was amongst a protracted checklist of Republicans who lauded Rubio’s nomination, saying he was assured he was the particular person the nation will want within the position below Trump. For his half, Rubio stored some exchanges with senators mild, however took a severe stance whereas making his case to develop into the nation’s chief diplomat who will implement Trump’s directives.

“The overseas coverage of america will probably be set by the president, and my job is to advise on it and finally to execute,” he informed the committee. “I believe the president has been abundantly clear and that’s his coverage is about making American safer, stronger and extra affluent.”

As Republicans praised Rubio, Democrats additionally shared help however concurrently raised issues over his interventionist overseas coverage views that conflict with Trump’s positions. Rubio additionally confronted questions over conflicts of pursuits between Trump’s household enterprise ties with overseas international locations.

The panel’s prime Democrat, New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, echoed different members of her social gathering who mentioned Rubio was nicely certified for the brand new position. Nonetheless, she questioned him on U.S. alliances with NATO and Ukraine. Whereas Rubio mentioned he would observe Trump’s directives, he nonetheless reiterated his protection of NATO and took intention at Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“There is not any doubt about it, however this warfare has to finish,” Rubio mentioned of the Russia-Ukraine battle. “And I believe it must be the official coverage of america that we need to see it finish.”

He added that Putin’s aim now’s to have most leverage, however Ukraine ought to have leverage, too. He did not rule out that Ukraine might must make some concessions in the long run.

“It will be very tough,” he mentioned. “This is not going to be straightforward.”

Rubio additionally famous a brand new Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal was a part of a number of optimistic developments within the area. Rubio argued to the committee that Israel has confronted a sequence of existential threats, and in some methods, nonetheless does right this moment.

“It isn’t simply concerning the ceasefire right this moment — though that is essential. The excellent news is that probably now we have had a dynamic shift within the area that has a historic alternative,” he mentioned. “If appropriately structured and purposed, that modifications the dynamics of what is likely to be attainable.”

He additionally highlighted in his testimony his issues that international locations akin to China are encroaching on the Latin American international locations of Panama, Nicaragua and extra. His hopes to additionally deal with the Western Hemisphere in a brand new manner is unprecedented, and plenty of allies say, welcomed.

“I believe the twenty first century will probably be outlined by what occurs between america and China,” Rubio mentioned.

He added, “What we won’t ignore is that, on the present street that we’re on now, is an unbalanced relationship.”

Rubio additionally addressed Trump’s latest feedback on Greenland and the Panama Canal

On the Panama Canal, Rubio argued that lawmakers on each side of the aisle have raised situation with its sovereignty, and potential threats.

“In a time of battle, China might use its presence on each ends of the canal as a chokepoint in opposition to america,” he mentioned. Trump has prompt the U.S. ought to take management of the Panama Canal.

He additionally added that Greenland stays strategically essential to america and to the West because of its geographic location and entry to minerals. And as extra navigable house is opening within the Arctic, it might reduce key transit occasions dramatically. Trump has expressed curiosity within the U.S. shopping for the island — which Denmark’s prime minister, who oversees the autonomous territory, has made clear just isn’t on the market.

“We’ve to have companions alongside the Arctic area that can be part of us in making certain that the Arctic area is open at no cost and move of navigation as these as these passages open up, as a result of world commerce is in some ways going to be infused by it,” Rubio mentioned.

The listening to was not a totally easy assembly for Rubio. At its begin, it was punctuated with loud disruptions from a number of protesters who stood and yelled in English and Spanish. One referred to as Rubio “little Marco” and one other mentioned in Spanish that youngsters have been being murdered in Latin American international locations. All of the protesters have been rapidly eliminated forcibly from the room by U.S. Capitol Police.

“I get bilingual protesters!” Rubio quipped at one level.

Rubio’s affirmation course of could also be among the many best of Trump’s picks

A longtime member of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee, Rubio is well-known by the lawmakers questioning him. The committee scheduled its subsequent assembly to take up the Rubio affirmation the day Trump is sworn in, organising the potential he may very well be appointed to the position on the brand new administration’s first day.

If confirmed, the 53-year-old Florida Republican could be the primary Latino to function America’s prime diplomat. Born in Florida, the son of Cuban immigrants was first elected senator in 2010 and gained a popularity as a hawkish voice on China, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.

Rubio and Trump launched a sequence of vicious assaults in opposition to one another within the 2016 presidential election. That 12 months, Rubio informed voters they need to not again Trump as candidate for president, saying “pals don’t let pals vote for con artists.” Trump dismissed him as “Little Marco.” Nonetheless, behind the scenes throughout that election, the 2 have been changing into unlikely allies. By 2024, Rubio turned a fixture on the marketing campaign path throughout Trump’s reelection bid. He was within the operating to be his vice chairman earlier than former Sen. J.D. Vance was picked as a substitute.

Rubio might nonetheless face loads of challenges, together with powerful questions on why he voted in opposition to help to Ukraine final 12 months, regardless of his earlier positions on Russia’s warfare there.

China has imposed sanctions on Rubio, which might make journey there tough. Rubio has accused China of a “grotesque marketing campaign of genocide” in opposition to Uyghur Muslims and he wrote laws that banned imports from the Xinjiang area. This human rights advocacy has put him at odds with Trump ally Elon Musk, who opened a Tesla dealership in Xinjiang quickly after Rubio’s Uyghur Compelled Labor Prevention Act was signed into regulation in 2021.

Rubio additionally confronted demise threats after he spoke out in opposition to the Venezuelan regime in 2017.

The outgoing Biden administration has made it a precedence to construct up alliances in Asia to counter China’s rise. On the State Division, Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrange “China Home,” an workplace that attracts on specialists throughout the U.S. authorities to deal with China. Which may be one workplace that Rubio will need to hold.

The secretary of state oversees U.S. overseas coverage, however Trump has already chipped away at a number of the job of America’s prime diplomat, by tapping quite a few particular envoys for Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon. He has additionally named a longtime overseas coverage adviser, Richard Grenell, who had been within the operating for secretary of state, to function envoy for “particular missions.” “Ric will work in a number of the hottest spots across the World, together with Venezuela and North Korea,” Trump mentioned in a posting on his social media platform, Fact Social, saying the appointment.