US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday new members of his next administration, and he is expected to choose Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
Both Rubio and Congressman Michael Waltz, tapped for the powerful role of national security adviser, have notably hawkish views on China, which they see as a threat and challenge to American economic and military power.
The two appointees, both from Florida, will be key architects of Trump’s “America First” foreign policy, in which the next president has promised to end the wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East, and avoid further US military involvement.
The 78-year-old Republican businessman pledged that his second term in power would lead to a radical change in the federal government.
Trump announced the appointment of immigration official Tom Homan as the country’s “border official” on Monday, tasking him with fulfilling his key domestic promise to mass deport illegal immigrants.
US media also reported that Stephen Miller, the author of Trump’s so-called “Muslim ban” immigration policy during his first term, is set to become his deputy chief of staff with a broad portfolio.
Trump’s transition team said in a statement that New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a hardline defender of Israel, has been approved to serve as ambassador to the United Nations.
In another announcement, Trump’s team said that Lee Zeldin, an early political ally, would be proposed to take over as head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a mandate to cut climate and pollution regulations seen as routine by companies.
‘turn around ‘
The top nominations, including Stefanik and Zeldin as well as secretary of state, will need Senate approval, but Trump hopes to bypass Senate oversight by making the appointments during the recess.
He has turned the issue into a loyalty test, insisting on Saturday that any Republican seeking to be Senate leader “must agree” to rescinding the appointments.
The three senators running for the position immediately issued statements saying they supported the move, or were at least open to the idea.
Trump is known to demand full personal loyalty from his aides and Cabinet picks, with all of his picks defending him and supporting his baseless claims of election fraud after his defeat to outgoing President Joe Biden in 2020.
The possible nomination of Rubio, which was reported by American media New York Times, The Washington Post and PoliticoThis would culminate a remarkable shift in relations between the two men.
In 2016, when they were vying for the Republican presidential nomination, Rubio called Trump a “con artist” and “the most vulgar person to ever aspire to the presidency.”
Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, first made his name in foreign policy as a fierce opponent of Cuba and its leftist allies in Latin America, especially Venezuela.
He has since become one of the most outspoken senators against Beijing, seeking to make it more difficult for Chinese companies to operate in the United States and leading congressional efforts to punish China on human rights grounds.
Asked Tuesday about Waltz and Rubio’s selections, Beijing said it would not comment on “staff appointments.”
“China’s position toward the United States is consistent and clear,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference.
Rubio also called for increasing US sanctions on Iran over its nuclear infrastructure.
“Border Czar” Homan, who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Trump during his first term, is a longtime advocate of the so-called “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Trump told Truth Social Channel, “I have known Tom (Homan) for a long time, and there is no one better at controlling our borders than him,” adding that Homan would be responsible for “all deportations of illegal aliens to their countries.” country of origin.”
Trump pledged to launch the largest deportation of illegal immigrants in the history of the United States.
“release”
Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated in January, and he has previously made one Cabinet-level appointment, appointing his campaign manager Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, a position that does not require Senate confirmation.
Republicans are set to maintain a strong majority in the Senate and creep toward a majority in the House of Representatives, which would give Trump the freedom to implement his agenda.
His selection for the position of Head of the Environment Department gives a clear indication of his intentions.
Trump said Zeldin would be tasked with making “fair and quick deregulation decisions,” with the businessman promising to tear up rules on safety and pollution that he believes are holding businesses back.
“We will restore America’s energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the United States the world leader in artificial intelligence. And we will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” Zeldin wrote on X.