Trump taps US Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state

Rubio, a Florida Republican, is a close ally of Trump and has been a vocal supporter of his policies

President Donald Trump has nominated US Senator Marco Rubio to be his new secretary of state, the White House announced on Thursday. Rubio, a Florida Republican, is a close ally of Trump and has been a vocal supporter of his policies. He is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans.

Rubio's nomination comes as no surprise, as he has been widely seen as the frontrunner for the position since Trump's election in November.

Rubio is a conservative Republican who has served in the Senate since 2011. He is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and has been a vocal critic of the Obama administration's foreign policy. Rubio is also a strong supporter of Israel and has been a leading advocate for increased sanctions against Iran.

As secretary of state, Rubio would be responsible for overseeing US foreign policy and representing the United States abroad.

He would also be responsible for managing relations with other countries, including negotiating treaties and agreements. Rubio's nomination is likely to be welcomed by conservatives, who have been critical of Trump's foreign policy team. However, it is also likely to be met with some resistance from Democrats, who have criticized Rubio's hawkish views on foreign policy.

Rubio's nomination is a sign that Trump is serious about pursuing a more conservative foreign policy.

Rubio is a strong supporter of increased military spending and has been a vocal critic of the Iran nuclear deal. He is also a supporter of withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Rubio's nomination is likely to please Trump's conservative base, but it could also alienate some moderate voters.

It remains to be seen how Rubio would perform as secretary of state.

He has no experience in foreign policy and has been criticized for being too ideological. However, he is a close ally of Trump and is likely to be given a free hand to pursue his own agenda.