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 @ISIDEWITHNewsForeign policyimmigrationNational securityDaily DiscussionDonald TrumpUkraineIranRussiaRepublicans•••3wks ago

Marco Rubio Poised to Lead Trump’s Foreign Policy as Secretary of State

President-elect Donald J. Trump is expected to name Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as his secretary of state, three people familiar with his thinking said on Monday, as Mr. Trump moves rapidly to fill out his foreign policy and national security team.

Mr. Rubio was elected to the Senate in 2010, and has staked out a position as a foreign policy hawk, taking hard lines on China and Iran in particular.He initially found himself at odds with those Republicans who were more skeptical about interventions abroad, but he has also echoed Mr. Trump more recently on issues like Russia’s war against Ukraine, saying that the conflict has reached a stalemate and “needs to be brought to a conclusion.”

Mr. Rubio was he was first elected to the Senate in 2010 as part of a new generation of conservative Tea Party leaders. But some conservatives considered him wobbly on immigration, an issue that caused him political problems when he ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 against Mr. Trump and others.During that campaign, Mr. Trump belittled him as “Little Marco,” and Mr. Rubio responded with acerbic attacks.

But after Mr. Trump’s 2016 victory, Mr. Rubio went on to patch things up with him, serving as an informal foreign policy adviser and helping to prepare him for his first debate against President Biden in 2020.

Under Florida law, Gov. Ron DeSantis can temporarily appoint a replacement to Mr. Rubio’s seat who will serve in the Senate until the next regularly scheduled general election is held. After last week’s elections, Republicans are set to hold at least 52 seats in the chamber.

10 Replies

 @82Y7LTYConservatism from Wisconsin  commented…3wks3W

I like this pick. Rubio’s been tough on China and Iran, and we need that now more than ever. Plus, he’s got enough experience in the Senate to navigate tough foreign policy decisions. Trump’s showing he can pick the best for the job, even if they were once rivals.

 @YearningCheeseGreen from Illinois  commented…3wks3W

Rubio as Secretary of State? This is a nightmare. His “hardline” approach on China and Iran will only lead to more conflict. The last thing we need is more hawkish foreign policy that only fuels instability and war. Diplomacy, not aggression, is the answer.

 @N0minati0nRonnieDemocrat from Minnesota  disagreed…3wks3W

I see where you’re coming from, but I also think we need someone who’s not afraid to push back against China. I’ve seen too many jobs shipped overseas. Rubio might actually be able to stand up for American workers on a global scale.

 @G0vernanceOilLibertarianfrom Maine  disagreed…3wks3W

Rubio’s a classic flip-flopper. First he’s pro-immigration reform, then he’s tough on immigration. Now he’s aligning with Trump, after being one of his biggest critics? How can we trust him to stay consistent on foreign policy?

 @6MDPWVZConservatismfrom South Carolina  commented…3wks3W

Rubio may have wobbled on a few issues, but he’s rock-solid on national security. We need a hawk in charge of our diplomacy, someone who won’t back down from threats. China and Iran need to know we mean business.

 @NourishingMagpiePeace and Freedomfrom Maine  disagreed…3wks3W

This isn’t about standing up to threats; it’s about bullying other countries to push our agenda. Rubio’s stance on Ukraine and his push for an end to the conflict could jeopardize the fight against Russian aggression. This appointment is dangerous.

 @6MDPWVZAmerican Solidarityfrom South Carolina  disagreed…3wks3W

He’s got experience, he knows the players, and he’s not so extreme that he’d ruin diplomatic ties. I think he might be one of the few people who can balance Trump’s rhetoric with a dose of realism.

 @EagerHeronSocialist from Pennsylvania  commented…3wks3W

Can we also talk about Rubio’s betrayal of the Latino community? His “wobbly” stance on immigration is more than just a minor issue. Appointing him to this role sends a terrible message to immigrant families. How can he represent America on the global stage?

 @847CC85Right-Wing Populism from New York  commented…3wks3W

I have mixed feelings about this. Rubio’s stance on China might actually help the working class, but I’m not sure I trust him. He’s aligned with the establishment too many times, and I don’t want more wars in the Middle East or anywhere else.

 @Mellow1972Libertarian from Washington  agreed…3wks3W

This is just more interventionist nonsense. Rubio is part of the establishment, just like the rest. Instead of getting involved in conflicts overseas, how about fixing the problems we have here?

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…6 days6D

Netanyahu Shifts Focus to Iran After Cease-Fire with Hezbollah

Israel approved a cease-fire with Lebanon that is intended to bring a halt to more than a year of fighting with the Hezbollah militia and could help defuse a broader regional crisis that has threatened to ensnare the U.S. and other world powers.“I have some good news to report from the Middle East,” President Biden said on Tuesday, announcing a cease-fire that he said would begin at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the agreement earlier in the day, saying it would let Israel focus on the threat from Iran, allow the Israeli military to rest and rearm, and isolate Hamas.“The continuation of the cease-fire will be dependent on what happens in Lebanon. We will enforce the agreement and respond forcefully to every violation,” Netanyahu said.Lebanon’s prime minister, Najib Mikati, welcomed the agreement, saying it would bring “calm and stability in Lebanon and the return of the displaced to their homes and cities.”The Lebanese cabinet is expected to meet on Wednesday to approve steps to enforce the cease-fire, including sending government security forces to areas of southern Lebanon near the border with Israel.Hezbollah has indicated openness to a deal in recent days. “What concerns us are Lebanese national measures and the protection of sovereignty,” Hassan Fadlallah, a member of Parliament affiliated with the group, told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.The announcements came after a day of heavy bombardment of Beirut while Israeli ground forces advanced deeper into Lebanese territory. Minutes after Biden spoke, a series of explosions thundered in Beirut. Northern Israel also came under renewed rocket fire.There was no immediate public comment from Hezbollah on the announced cease-fire.If implemented, the agreement would be a diplomatic success for Biden in the twilight of his administration, after more than a year in which the White House has tried to fend off the possibility of a wider regional war. It could also change the landscape that President-elect Donald Trump will face when he takes office in January.

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…6 days6D

Mexico Slams U.S. Policies as Trump Renews Border War

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…1wk1W

Missiles for Moscow: North Korea's Secret Factory Fuels Russia's War Machine

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 @ISIDEWITH submitted…14hrs14H

Biden will issue a pardon of his son Hunter Biden

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