1 of 3 | Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks at the 2024 Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee in July. On Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump selected Rubio as secretary of state in his next administration. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 13 (UPI) — President-elect Donald Trump filled more key positions in his Cabinet on Wednesday as he tapped Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to serve as secretary of state; Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., as U.S. attorney general and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence.
After meeting with President Joe Biden for two hours at the White House in Washington, Trump revealed his latest nominations.
“It is my great honor to announce that Sen. Marco Rubio, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be the U.S. secretary of state. Marco is a highly respected leader and a very powerful Voice for Freedom,” Trump said in a statement Wednesday.
“He will be a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.”
Rubio, a Cuban American, would become the first Latino person to serve as secretary of state, if confirmed. A three-term senator, Rubio is the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee and serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Last year, Rubio voted against additional aid for Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion and has said the war in Ukraine will end with a “negotiated settlement,” which Trump also supports.
Rubio also backs Israel’s right to defend itself in its war with Hamas and favors maintaining U.S. alliances, including NATO. The senator also backs Trump’s deportation program for undocumented immigrants.
While Rubio’s appointment is subject to confirmation by a majority of the Senate, Republicans now hold a 53-seat majority.
After Wednesday’s announcement, Rubio vowed to “earn the support of my colleagues in the U.S. Senate so the president has his national security and foreign policy team in place when he takes office on Jan. 20.”
“Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me,” Rubio said in a statement Wednesday.
“As secretary of state, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda,” Rubio added. “Under the leadership of President Trump we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interest of Americans and America above all else.”
Trump also announced his nomination of Gaetz to become the next U.S. attorney general to reform the Department of Justice and “end the partisan weaponization of our justice system.”
“It is my great honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States,” Trump said in a statement.
“Matt will end weaponized government, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organizations and restore Americans’ badly shattered faith and confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump added. “We must have honesty, integrity and transparency at DOJ.”
On Wednesday, Gaetz responded to Trump’s announcement, saying “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s attorney general!”
Gaetz, who is an attorney, has served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he is currently on the House Judiciary Committee.
If confirmed by the Senate, Gaetz will succeed Attorney General Merrick Garland, who led a Justice Department sex-trafficking investigation of the congressman. While the Department decided against charging Gaetz, who has denied any wrongdoing, he remains under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
Gaetz has repeatedly criticized the Justice Department investigation and prosecution of Trump by special counsel Jack Smith, who is expected to wrap up his two criminal cases against the president-elect and resign before Trump’s Inauguration in January.
Gaetz also filed the original motion in October 2023 to oust former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
On Wednesday, Gaetz traveled with Trump and others to Washington, where the president-elect announced Gabbard as his pick for national intelligence chief.
“I am pleased to announce that former Congresswoman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, will serve as Director of National Intelligence. For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our country and the freedoms of all Americans,” Trump wrote in a statement.
“As a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, she has broad support in both parties. She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence community, championing our Constitutional rights, and security peace through strength,” Trump added.
Gabbard, who served four terms in the U.S. House, sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 before endorsing Trump in 2024 for a second term and joining the Republican Party. During her time in Washington, she served on the Armed Services, Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees.
Gabbard is a veteran who served three deployments to war zones in the Middle East and Africa after enlisting in the Army National Guard following the attacks on 9/11. She is currently a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and leads her non-profit organization, “We Must Protect.”
“Thank you Donald Trump, for the opportunity to serve as a member of your Cabinet to defend the safety, security and freedom of the American people,” Gabbard wrote Wednesday in a post on X, following the announcement.
“I look forward to getting to work.”
