Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio was confirmed as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state by the Senate on Monday by a vote of 99-0.
Rubio will play a key role in fulfilling many of Trump’s most ambitious campaign pledges, including putting a stop to the conflict in Ukraine, thwarting China’s expanding might, and enacting a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Democrats paved the path for a streamlined confirmation process after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee overwhelmingly recommended Rubio’s confirmation earlier Monday.
For one of their own, it is a thundering demonstration of Senate bipartisanship.
Since 2011, the 53-year-old Floridian has been a member of the Senate. Before withdrawing and supporting Trump, he was a presidential candidate in 2016. He was on Trump’s shortlist for vice president in 2024.
Rubio is a well-known China hawk who is against restoring relations with Cuba and would be the first Latino to serve as secretary of state.
