Trump expected to name Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State: report

President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering nominating Senator Marco Rubio of Florida for the position of Secretary of State, according to a source familiar with the matter. While there is still a possibility of a last-minute change, Trump is currently planning to offer the job to Rubio, a three-term senator who was previously considered for the role of vice president by the former president.

The news of Rubio’s potential nomination was first reported by the New York Times. Rubio, the son of Cuban exiles, was elected to the Senate in 2010 and is known for his foreign policy expertise and support for maintaining U.S. alliances overseas, including NATO. He has also aligned with Trump on various international issues such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s conflict with Hamas.

Despite being a former rival of Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential nomination battle, Rubio has since become a strong ally of the president in the Senate. If nominated and confirmed, Rubio would become the first Latino Secretary of State in U.S. history.

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) has expressed support for Rubio’s potential nomination, praising his outspoken defense of Israel and commitment to standing with allies and confronting enemies. The RJC’s National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks released a statement endorsing Rubio for the role.

In the past week, Trump has already begun shaping his cabinet by selecting individuals for key positions. This includes naming Rep. Elise Stefanik as his ambassador to the United Nations, Tom Homan as the new “border czar,” Rep. Michael Waltz as his national security advisor, and former Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

As the story continues to develop, stay tuned for updates on Rubio’s potential nomination as Secretary of State. The original article was written by politics reporter Paul Steinhauser, based in New Hampshire.