Donald Trump Likely To Name Marco Rubio As Secretary Of State

US President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly expected to name Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as his nominee for secretary of state. The New York Times, citing three people familiar with the matter, first reported that Donald Trump appears to be settled on Rubio for the top post.

Trump could still change his mind at the last minute, the people said, reported The New York Times. Marco Rubio, who was elected to the Senate in 2010, was known for taking hard lines on China, Venezuela, and Cuba in particular. Notably, Rubio was one of three final contenders for Donald Trump's vice presidential pick. However, Trump ultimately chose US Senator JD Vance of Ohio.

According to a Reuters report, Rubio is a top China hawk in the Senate and was sanctioned by Beijing in 2020 over his stance on Hong Kong following democracy protests. During the presidential election in 2016, Rubio also ran against Trump for the Republican nomination. In the years since, the senator has become a close adviser to Trump on foreign relations.