Sen. Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, successfully passed his confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, all but confirming that he will assume the top diplomatic role under the new Trump administration later this month.
Mr. Rubio’s confirmation hearings have typically been a process filled with verbal accusations, strong political agendas, and fantastical answers, with both Democratic and Republican senators trying to understand the complexities of Mr. Rubio’s work in the Senate and around the world. It was full of joy and praise for his deep knowledge of the subject matter.
Here are the most important moments from Rubio’s hearing:
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protesters
Rubio may have been welcomed by his Senate colleagues, but his hearings were not completely without controversy.
The Secretary of State’s much-anticipated opening remarks included a number of members of a group known as “Code Pink” protesting the Israel-Hamas war and wearing pink shirts with the words “Stop the Killing of Gaza’s Children” written on them. interrupted by several demonstrators.
Two of the demonstrators forced to leave the chamber were men, and later a female demonstrator also stood up and shouted in Spanish.
She was immediately removed from the room and the hearing resumed shortly after.
“We have bilingual protesters,” Rubio told senators with a laugh before resuming his remarks.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio successfully passed his confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Just kidding
Mr. Rubio’s sarcasm toward protesters seemed to set the tone for his hearing.
While Mr. Rubio faced tough questions on detailed geopolitical issues on nearly every continent, senators on both sides of the aisle also joked with their Senate colleagues.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, introduced Rubio at the beginning of the hearing and quipped that Rubio, who has served with him in the Senate since 2019, could “finally” be Florida’s senior senator. .
Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said, “Senator Rubio is the president,” drawing laughter. [elect] I made a great decision in choosing you.
“You’re a thought leader in foreign policy. But I don’t think most Americans know what a great thought leader you are in the NCAA, the NFL, and high school football. And I think you I’m a little disappointed that that’s the case.”I’m not going to go to the top of the NCAA right now.” ”
In response, Rubio responded, “Not yet,” drawing laughter from the audience.
In another moment of bipartisanship rarely seen in Cabinet nomination hearings, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., told the moving story of her first encounter with Mr. Rubio. It was in stark contrast to the question asked to Pete Hegseth the day before.
In 2018, Duckworth was not only a relative newcomer to the Senate, but the soon-to-be mother also asked Congress to change the rules to allow new parents to enter the Senate chamber with infants during votes. I was asked to do so.
Duckworth, who became disabled after surviving an RPG attack on a helicopter in Iraq in 2004, described how she rolled around the Senate chamber in her wheelchair when she heard someone calling her name.
“And you came running down from the top in the back of the Senate chamber and said, ‘I’m with you. I support you,'” she said. “And I want to thank you for that kindness…It was a true bipartisan moment.”
“I think what I said exactly was, ‘What’s the big deal? This place is already full of babies,'” Rubio responded, drawing another round of laughter.
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While Rubio faced tough questions on detailed geopolitical issues on nearly every continent, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also joked with him. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
serious problem
The five-hour hearing was filled with fun and laughter, as Rubio was faced with issues of critical national security implications, including the war in Ukraine, China, NATO, and Arctic security. It wasn’t.
Mr. Rubio’s tough stance on China and determination to remain a strong NATO ally surprised no one.
Senators had hoped Rubio would be more explicit about what would happen to continued aid to Ukraine and how the incoming Trump administration would address Ukraine’s membership in NATO. It might have been.
Both Ukraine and Russia have indicated that they are open to ceasefire negotiations. However, Ukraine’s membership in the NATO alliance is seen as non-negotiable by both Kiev, which wants the alliance’s security, and Moscow, which fervently opposes Ukraine’s membership in NATO. Securing an agreement may be difficult.
“The truth of the matter is that Russia cannot occupy all of Ukraine in this conflict. Ukrainians are too brave, they fight too hard, and this country is too big,” he said.
Sen. Marco Rubio testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination for Secretary of State at the Capitol in Washington, DC, January 15, 2025. (Andrew Caballero Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
But, Rubio added, “Ukraine can’t be cornering these people either.” [Russians] We went back to where they were the night before the invasion. ”
Rubio noted that Ukraine would not be able to keep up with the sheer number of bodies that Russia could throw into the war.
“It’s important for everyone to be realistic. We’re going to have to make concessions,” Rubio said. “This is not easy.”[It’s] It will require a lot of tough diplomacy. ”
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china problem
Security threats surrounding China include concerns about China’s growing presence in Africa and Latin America, its repressive practices in the South China Sea, trade, human rights abuses, technology, and its growing relationship with China, Rubio said. were featured in almost every issue that was asked to be addressed. other enemy countries.
However, one of the newer issues making headlines these days is China’s involvement in the Panama Canal.
“This is something that has existed in my service for at least 10 years,” he said, referring to a trip to Panama in 2017. “Chinese companies control port facilities on both ends of the canal, the eastern and western ports, and the concern at the time among military and security officials, including in Panama, was that [was] It could one day be used as a choke point to block trade in times of conflict. ”
“This is a legitimate issue that needs to be faced,” he added.
Issues over China’s control over the main waterway resurfaced earlier this month when President Trump refused to say whether he would rule out military intervention in the Panama Canal.
Mr. Rubio was repeatedly pressed on this issue, but it was clear that he was not at the stage where he knew enough about the legal elements of the U.S. intervention in Panama to be able to provide a full response.
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Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, praised Rubio for being “very well prepared” for his confirmation hearing as the next secretary of state. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Cane Gash
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, praised Rubio for being “very well prepared” for his confirmation hearing as the next secretary of state. It was a stark contrast to the tense demeanor with Mr. Hegseth at the hearing the day before.
“We find that sometimes candidates know a lot about some things, and sometimes they know very little about almost everything,” he says. “But I’m sure you’ve seen the hearings with the candidate, and whether he agrees with his points or disagrees with them, he’s not speaking from a briefing. there is no.
“He can’t look through a binder to figure out how to answer a particular question,” Cain continued. “Having worked with Senator Rubio on this committee since he came to the Senate in January 2013, what has always impressed me is his extremely well-developed worldview and his passion for every detail. It means that you have.”
Mr. Kaine’s sentiments appear to be shared by the entire committee, with many senators expressing confidence that Mr. Rubio will be unanimously confirmed to the top post.
Caitlin McFall is a reporter for Fox News Digital, covering politics, U.S. and world news.
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