Senate confirms Rubio as secretary of state, Trump's first Cabinet member

WASHINGTON — 

The Senate rapidly confirmed Marco Rubio arsenic caput of authorities connected Monday, voting unanimously to springiness President Donald Trump the archetypal subordinate of his caller Cabinet connected Inauguration Day.

Rubio, a Republican legislator from Florida, is among the slightest arguable of Trump's nominees, and the ballot was a decisive 99-0. Another pick, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, is besides expected to person a swift vote. Action connected others, including erstwhile combat seasoned and Fox News big Pete Hegseth for defence secretary, is expected aboriginal successful the week.

"Marco Rubio is simply a precise intelligent antheral with a singular knowing of American overseas policy," Senator Chuck Grassley, the senior-most Republican, said arsenic the enclosure opened.

It's often contented for the Senate to convene instantly aft the ceremonial pomp of the inauguration to statesman putting the caller president's squad successful place, peculiarly the nationalist information officials. During Trump's archetypal term, the Senate swiftly confirmed his defence and homeland information secretaries connected his archetypal time successful office. Former President Joe Biden's prime for manager of nationalist quality was confirmed connected his ain Inauguration Day.

With Trump's instrumentality to the White House, and his Republican Party controlling majorities successful Congress, his outsider Cabinet choices are much intelligibly falling into place, contempt archetypal skepticism and absorption from some sides of the aisle.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune moved rapidly Monday, saying helium expected voting to statesman "imminently" connected Trump's nominees.

Democrats person calculated it's amended for them to beryllium seen arsenic much consenting to enactment with Trump alternatively than simply mounting a blockade to his nominees. They're holding their absorption for immoderate of his different picks who person little support, including Tulsi Gabbard for manager of nationalist quality and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for wellness secretary.

Senate Democratic person Chuck Schumer said his enactment would "neither rubber-stamp nominees we consciousness are grossly unqualified, nor reason nominees that merit superior consideration."

Rubio, helium said, is an illustration of "a qualified nominee we deliberation should beryllium confirmed quickly."

Senate committees person been holding lengthy confirmation hearings connected much than a twelve of the Cabinet nominees, with much to travel this week. And respective panels were expected to conscionable precocious Monday to statesman voting to beforehand the nominees to the afloat Senate for confirmation.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee precocious Rubio's information precocious Monday. The Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Intelligence Committee, respectively, precocious the nominations of Hegseth and Ratcliffe.

Rubio, a well-liked legislator and erstwhile Trump rival during the 2016 statesmanlike race, has drawn person to the president successful caller years. He appeared past week to reply questions earlier the Foreign Relations Committee, wherever helium has spent much than a decennary arsenic a member.

As caput of state, Rubio would beryllium the nation's apical diplomat and the archetypal Latino to clasp the position. Born successful Miami to Cuban immigrants, helium has agelong been progressive successful overseas affairs, peculiarly successful South America, and has emerged arsenic a hawk connected China's rise.

During his confirmation proceeding past week, Rubio warned of the consequences of America's "unbalanced relationship" with China. While helium echoes Trump's anti-globalist rhetoric, Rubio is besides seen arsenic an internationalist who understands the powerfulness of U.S. engagement connected the planetary stage.

Rubio volition instrumentality implicit for outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has said helium hopes the Trump medication continues Biden's policies successful the Middle East to extremity the warfare successful Gaza and to assistance Ukraine antagonistic Russian nomination.

The Senate is divided 53-47, but the resignation of Vice President JD Vance drops the GOP bulk to 52 until his successor arrives. Republicans request astir each enactment subordinate successful enactment to flooded Democratic absorption to nominees.

Objection from immoderate 1 senator, arsenic is expected with Hegseth and respective different choices, would unit the Senate into procedural steps that would resistance voting aboriginal into the week.