US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Florida Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, selecting the high-profile Republican to spearhead his administration’s foreign policy.
Announcing the nomination, Trump praised Rubio as “a highly respected leader and a strong voice of freedom,” adding, “He will be a strong defender of our nation, a true friend to our allies, and a fearless warrior who will never back down from our adversaries.”
Rubio responded to the nomination on social media, signaling his support for Trump’s foreign policy agenda. “As Secretary of State, I will work every day to implement the President’s foreign policy agenda,” he wrote. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will achieve peace through strength and will always put Americans and America’s interests above all else. I look forward to securing the support of my colleagues in the US Senate so that the President has his national security and foreign policy team in place when he takes office on January 20.”
Rubio’s nomination will now proceed to the Senate, where he will require a majority vote to be confirmed as Secretary of State.