Donald Trump will choose Hispanic Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state in his new government, as reported by Reuters. He New York Times He advanced the information, citing sources close to the process, while warning that Trump could change his mind at the last minute. Neither party has yet confirmed the information. If so, Rubio, 53, will be the first Latino to lead American diplomacy.
The decision to put a Latino at the head of American foreign policy also has symbolic value for the Hispanic community. The Latino vote, particularly that of men, played a determining role in these elections so that the mogul could return to the White House. Despite his racist rhetoric, Rubio’s selection for such an important position in his administration is also a way to endear himself to one of the country’s most important demographic groups. In these elections, Latin Americans represented 15% of the total electorate nationally.
Rubio, a Florida senator since 2010, has stood out for his tough stances on China and Iran. He also supported sanctions against Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. Rubio’s vision for Beijing and Tehran aligns with promises Trump made about a presidency that will be feared by major international rivals. The new administration will face an international scenario marked by the war in Ukraine, escalation in the Middle East and the Asian giant’s annexation aspirations in the South China Sea. A context where Russia, Iran and China join forces in the pursuit of common interests.
The future secretary of state was among the Republican senators who followed Trump’s guidelines and voted against the $95 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which was blocked until last April. In recent interviews, Rubio said Ukraine must seek a negotiated deal with Russia to end the conflict and set aside its attempts to reclaim occupied territories. “I’m not on Russia’s side, but unfortunately the reality is that the war in Ukraine is going to end in a negotiated settlement,” Rubio said on NBC in September.
Concerning the war in Gaza, the senator from Florida displays a marked pro-Israeli profile. Last November, shortly after the conflict broke out, Rubio assured a group of pro-Palestinian activists that he would not call for a ceasefire, but “quite the contrary.” “I want you to understand this: I want you to destroy every element of Hamas that you can find. These people are ruthless animals who have committed horrible crimes, and I hope they publish this,” Rubio said in the video posted by one of the activists on the X platform.
Rubio’s selection, alongside pro-Israel congresswoman Elise Stefanik, confirms Trump’s desire to close ranks with Israel amid an international community increasingly critical of Tel Aviv’s actions. The Republican appears to be pointing to ways to overcome the administration of current President Joe Biden, who has led one of the most pro-Israel presidencies in U.S. history.
Although he shares many of Trump’s foreign policy positions, Rubio was a sponsor in 2023 of legislation that makes it harder for any president to order the United States to leave NATO. The rule, which Biden signed into law in 2024, establishes that to withdraw from the Alliance it is necessary to have the support of two-thirds of the Senate or for Congress to authorize it by law. Trump has always deplored that the United States contributes more financially to the Alliance than its European partners and assured at the beginning of the year that he would “encourage” Russia to attack allies who do not contribute enough to defense.
Throughout the campaign, Trump assured that China, Russia and Iran were becoming stronger within the international system because they were not afraid of current President Joe Biden. The now president-elect therefore promised to make the United States a power “feared” by its rivals. Even if Trump, rather than arousing fear, arouses the sympathy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he continued to maintain contacts after leaving the White House.
This summer, his name was among those considered as a possible vice president for Trump. Although he participated in the 2016 primaries and their relationship did not get off to a good start, Rubio managed to rise through the ranks and become one of the figures who revolve around the now president-elect.
