United States Senator Marco Rubio has pledged to advance President-elect Donald Trump’s “America First” international coverage throughout a Senate affirmation listening to to grow to be the nation’s subsequent secretary of state.
Talking earlier than the Senate International Relations Committee on Wednesday, Rubio mentioned that, below Trump’s management, the US Division of State’s “high precedence … will likely be america”.
“Below President Trump, the {dollars} of hardworking American taxpayers will at all times be spent properly, and our energy will even be wielded prudently and in direction of what’s finest for America — and Individuals — earlier than something and all the pieces else,” he mentioned.
“For our nation, putting the pursuits of America and Individuals above all else has by no means been extra related or extra essential than it’s proper now.”
The listening to — which was interrupted a number of instances by protesters — comes as lawmakers in Washington, DC are questioning a slew of Trump’s cabinet picks simply days earlier than the Republican chief’s inauguration subsequent week.
The primary such listening to on Tuesday noticed US legislators grill Trump’s nominee to guide the Pentagon, former Fox Information host Pete Hegseth, over a collection of controversies, together with allegations of sexual assault that he has denied.
Rubio is anticipated to be confirmed extra comfortably by the complete Senate after his committee listening to, the place he acquired the backing of high Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
“I consider you’ve got the abilities and are properly suited to function US secretary of state,” Shaheen mentioned firstly of Wednesday’s session.
Main the U.S. Division of State is an incredible accountability and I’m honored by the belief President Trump has positioned in me. As Secretary of State, I’ll work day by day to hold out his international coverage agenda. Below the management of President Trump we are going to ship peace…
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 13, 2024
Reporting from Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna mentioned Rubio’s affirmation “might be going to be the simplest of hearings for Trump’s nominees”.
“Actually, he has all of the expertise that’s wanted,” mentioned Hanna, although he added that questions have come up round Rubio’s “considerably hawkish stance almost about worldwide relations”.
“Rubio himself drove this house in his opening assertion, by which he made very clear his perception in what he describes as an ‘America First’ agenda,” Hanna reported. “As soon as once more, he’s aligning himself very rigorously with Trump’s primary premise. And that’s ‘America First’.”
If confirmed, Rubio — born in Miami, Florida, to Cuban immigrant dad and mom — would grow to be the primary Latino ever to function the nation’s high diplomat and lead US international coverage.
He was first elected to the Senate in 2011. Within the years since, the 53-year-old has earned a repute for bipartisanship on nationwide safety points as a longtime member of each the Senate international relations and intelligence committees.
A staunch supporter of Israel, he additionally has grow to be identified for his hawkish views on US adversaries together with China, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.
On Wednesday, he mentioned Beijing has “repressed and lied and cheated and hacked and stolen [its] manner into world superpower standing”.
Rubio additionally has expressed robust backing for Israel’s battle in Gaza, telling a peace activist in late 2023 that the Palestinian group Hamas was “one hundred pc in charge” for the deaths of Palestinians within the enclave.
“I need them to destroy each aspect of Hamas they will get their arms on,” Rubio mentioned in that alternate in December 2023. “These persons are vicious animals who did horrifying crimes, and I hope you guys put up that as a result of that’s my place.”
In April of final yr, Rubio was one among 15 Republican senators to vote in opposition to a giant navy help package deal to assist Ukraine resist Russia’s invasion, though he voted in favour of help to Ukraine in Might 2022.
Trump has been vital of Democratic President Joe Biden’s persevering with navy help for Kyiv.
Rubio has mentioned Ukraine wants to hunt a negotiated settlement with Russia fairly than give attention to regaining all territory Moscow has taken within the final decade.
Rubio’s relationship with Trump has modified over time, with the pair going through off as rivals throughout the 2016 race for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump finally received that GOP contest in his profitable marketing campaign for the White Home.
In 2016, Trump infamously mocked Rubio’s bodily stature, branding him “Little Marco”. Rubio responded by labelling his rival “Small Fingers Trump”.
However as Trump’s grip on the Republican Occasion solidified, Rubio joined different GOP lawmakers in supporting the businessman-turned-president.
For his half, the US president-elect hailed Rubio as a “Extremely Revered Chief, and a really highly effective Voice for Freedom” when he announced him as his nominee for secretary of state in November.
“He will likely be a powerful Advocate for our Nation, a real buddy to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who won’t ever again right down to our adversaries,” Trump mentioned on the time.
Whereas Rubio will lead US international coverage if confirmed as secretary of state, his function will doubtless stay secondary to Trump, who relishes the worldwide stage and ceaselessly makes use of the bully pulpit in opposition to the nation’s allies.
Trump notably had an acrimonious relationship together with his first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson: Trump fired Tillerson through a social media put up lower than two years into his time period.
