Washington Sen. Marco Rubio will be questioned by his Senate colleagues Wednesday morning. This is expected to one of the less contentious hearings of this week.
Rubio’s extensive experience in foreign policy will likely help him to easily pass the confirmation process and become the country’s top diplomat. The questioning could be awkward, though, if Democrats focus on his possible differences in foreign policy with Trump, who is now his former opponent and whom he must defend.
Rubio will likely say that, “Under President Trump, the United States Department of State’s top priority must and will be, ultimately, the United States,” according to prepared remarks. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing is set to start at 10 am. You can watch it live above.
The senator has taken a hard line on China, Iran and Venezuela. He has been one of the most vocal senators in the Senate when it comes to China. He says that the country is “the threat that will define this Century.” Since then, members of both parties have adopted his views on China.
Rubio, in addition to warning China about national security threats, has also tried to hold China accountable when it comes human rights violations. Beijing banned Rubio from China in 2020 as a response to his criticisms. The fate of this ban is unclear once Rubio takes office, and he’s tasked to carry out Trump’s goals for foreign policy.
According to excerpts, Rubio will target China during the hearing. He will claim that the Chinese government “lied, cheated, hacked, and stole their way to global power status at our expense.”
Rubio inherits the position with a host of global challenges including Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, the Middle East’s violence, China’s aggression towards Taiwan, and the Panama Canal . Trump also suggested the use of military force to take control of Greenland. He has floated the idea of annexing Canada to become the 51st State and threatened trade wars against U.S. Allies.
Rubio will also call the post-Cold War world order “obsolete”, and claim that it’s “a weapon used against us.”
Rubio will say that “while America has far too often prioritized the global order above our core national interest, other countries have continued to act as they always have, and always will in what they perceive as being in their best interests,” Rubio intends to say. “Instead of embracing the post-Cold War world order, other nations have manipulated it in their own interest to the detriment of ours.”
What is Marco Rubio all about?
Rubio, 53 years old, was born to Cuban immigrants in Miami who came to the U.S.A. in May 1956. His mother was a hotelmaid and his father worked as a banquet-bartender. According to the Senate website, Rubio was “attracted to public service primarily because of his grandpa, who had seen his homeland destroyed by communism.”
Rubio began his long career in politics as a city commissioner after earning degrees from the University of Florida Law School and the University of Miami Law School. In 2000, he was elected to Florida’s House of Representatives, where he served for eight years, including two as speaker.
Florida Republican first elected to Senate in 2010, and won third six-year terms in 2022. He served as both vice chair and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Rubio was one of many GOP presidential candidates in 2016. After losing to Trump’s primary in Florida, he ended his campaign. During the campaign, Rubio called Trump “a con-artist” who was hijacking Republican Party. He also called him “the most vulgar candidate” ever to run for president. Trump tried to minimize his rival’s importance by calling him “Little Marco.”
Rubio still endorsed Trump as president after dropping out and the two have formed a pragmatic relation in the years that followed. Trump considered Rubio for a running mate role in 2024, but chose Sen. JDVance of Ohio.
Watch Marco Rubio’s confirmation Hearing
CBS News will stream Rubio’s hearing for confirmation in the player above at 10 am ET. ET on Wednesday.
Marco Rubio has the votes for confirmation?
Rubio will be confirmed by a bipartisan majority. Many Senate Democrats have applauded Trump’s selection and pledged to back his nomination, which will give him more than 50 votes, barring anything unforeseen.
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, of Illinois, met with Rubio Monday and called him “a good pick” who “understands the United States role internationally.”
Durbin, a leading Senate Democrat, made a statement saying that he would vote “yes” on the nomination.
