Trump got his first Cabinet member while the Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

The Senate quickly confirmed Marco Rubio as Secretary of State on Monday, voting unanimously to give President Donald Trump his first Cabinet member on Inauguration Day. The vote was decisive 99-0, and Rubio was among Trump’s least controversial nominees.
Another pick, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, is also expected to receive a quick vote, while others, including former war veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, are expected to be taken at some time. Later in the week. Senate Majority Leader John Thune moved quickly, saying he expected voting to begin “soon” on Trump’s nominees.
“Marco Rubio is a very smart man with a great understanding of American foreign policy,” Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican, said as the hall opened. It is often customary for the Senate to meet immediately after the inauguration to begin appointing the new president’s team, especially national security officials.
Democrats have seen it better to be seen as more willing to work with Trump, rather than simply laying siege to his nominees. They are opposing some of his other picks with less support, including Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said his party “will not endorse nominees who we feel are completely unqualified, and will not oppose nominees who deserve serious consideration.” He added that Rubio is an example of “a qualified nominee who we believe should be confirmed quickly.”
Senate committees are holding lengthy confirmation hearings on more than a dozen Cabinet nominees, with more scheduled to come this week. Several committees are expected to meet late Monday to begin voting to advance nominees to the full Senate for confirmation.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Rubio’s nomination late Monday, while the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee advanced Hegseth and Ratcliffe, respectively.
As Secretary of State, Rubio will be the country’s top diplomat and the first Latino to hold the position. Born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, he has long been involved in foreign affairs, especially in South America, and has emerged as a hawk on the rise of China.
During his confirmation hearing, Rubio highlighted concerns about America’s “unbalanced relationship” with China. While he shares Trump’s anti-globalization views, he has been recognized as an internationalist who values ​​American global engagement.
Rubio expects support from both parties. He will succeed Antony Blinken, who has expressed hope for continuity in Middle East policies regarding Gaza and Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
The Senate is divided 53 to 47, but the resignation of Vice President J.D. Vance reduces the Republican Party’s majority to 52 until the arrival of his successor. Republicans need nearly every member of the party to overcome Democratic opposition to the nominees, as any senator’s objection would force the Senate to take procedural steps that would drag out the vote until later in the week.