The US Senate unanimously approved Marco Rubio as secretary of state on Monday, putting the fellow senator on the front line of President Donald Trump's often confrontational diplomacy.
The Senate confirmed Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, on Monday as America’s 72nd secretary of state, putting a former political rival of President Trump at the helm of American diplomacy.
The Senator is expected to be an easy confirmation, but that didn't mean there was no drama Wednesday morning.
The Senate voted unanimously to confirm Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) as secretary of state on Monday, delivering President Donald Trump the first member of his Cabinet just hours after he was sworn in for a second term.
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, questioned secretary of state nominee Marco Rubio on Wednesday as confirmation hearings continued for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks.
On NATO, Rubio repeatedly called it a “very important alliance.” He suggested NATO members should pay their fair share and be “capable” of defending themselves, but nowhere in his comments was a suggestion that the U.S. might leave the alliance, as Trump has suggested.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio painted a dark vision of the consequences of America’s “unbalanced relationship” with China.
Now-former Sen. Marco Rubio was sworn in Tuesday morning as secretary of state by Vice President JD Vance. He replaces Antony Blinken in the position. The Senate unanimously confirmed Rubio for the position on Monday hours after Trump took office for his second term. The vote was 99-0. No senators voted against Rubio, CNN reported.
North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik testified in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, as the full Senate is set to vote on potentially confirming her to be ambassador to the United Nations under recently inaugurated President Donald Trump.
The move leaves tens of thousands of Afghan refugees at risk days before implementation of the executive order was expected.
President Donald Trump has halted arrivals of refugees already cleared to enter the United States, according to a memo seen Wednesday, as he quickly pursues a sweeping crackdown on migration.