(NewsNation) — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will say at his confirmation hearing Wednesday that as part of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, he will place American interests “above all else.”
“Placing our core national interests above all else is not isolationism,” Rubio will tell the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to an opening statement obtained by The Associated Press. “It is the commonsense realization that a foreign policy centered on our national interest is not some outdated relic.”
“The postwar global order is not just obsolete; it is now a weapon being used against us,” Rubio is set to say in the opening statement.
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Rubio’s confirmation is expected to go smoother than other Trump cabinet picks such as Fox News host Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, Trump’s choice for defense secretary, faced questions over allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking and his divisive views on women in combat and minorities.
On the other hand, Rubio has gotten bipartisan support, including from Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, who said he plans to vote yes on his nomination.
“I believe Senator Rubio has a thorough understanding of the United States’ role on an international scale, has served with honor on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is a good choice to lead the State Department,” Durbin said Monday, noting the two share similar views on issues such as the “continued threat of China” and “recent sham election in Venezuela.”
Born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, Rubio would be the first Latino to serve as Secretary of State if confirmed.
While serving in the Florida legislature, Rubio was the first Cuban American to act as the state’s speaker of the House. After his election to the U.S. Senate in 2011, Rubio unsuccessfully ran to be the Republican nominee for president in 2016.
Although he once had a combative history with Trump, Rubio has since positioned himself as an ally of the president-elect.
The Associated Press and NewsNation’s Steph Whiteside contributed to this article.
