President-elect Donald Trump is expected to name Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his nominee for secretary of state, although the choice is not yet a done deal, two sources familiar with the talks told CBS News.
The expected nomination represents a long way from the days when Trump and the Florida senator were rivals during the 2016 Republican primaries, when Trump called Rubio “Little Marco” and Rubio made insinuations about Trump’s masculinity in a presidential debate. The two have since mended their relationship, and Rubio campaigned with the former president this year.
The New York Times first reported that Trump appears to have settled on Rubio for the post. A spokesperson for Rubio did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Evan Vucci/AP
GOP Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee is also being considered for secretary of state, a source with knowledge of the discussions said told earlier CBS News.
Rubio, 53, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is a China hawk with extensive foreign policy experience. Republicans will control the Senate in January, likely giving Rubio an easy path to confirmation, backed by his Republican colleagues.
In Florida, the governor is appointing a temporary replacement for open U.S. Senate seats, meaning Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would have the opportunity to choose Rubio’s successor if the nomination goes through.
Trump has announced since then, a whole series of nominees and appointments winning a second term last week, with more expected in the coming weeks.
