From his perch on the U.S. Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., came out swinging against President-elect Donald Trump nominating ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to serve as secretary of State.
Rubio, who clashed with Trump during the Republican presidential primaries, had already jabbed Tillerson for his ties to Russian leader Vladimir Putin over the weekend. On Tuesday morning, Rubio noted his continued “concerns” about Tillerson heading the State Department.
“While Rex Tillerson is a respected businessman, I have serious concerns about his nomination,” Rubio said. “The next secretary of State must be someone who views the world with moral clarity, is free of potential conflicts of interest, has a clear sense of America's interests, and will be a forceful advocate for America's foreign policy goals to the president, within the administration, and on the world stage. I look forward to learning more about his record and his views. I will do my part to ensure he receives a full and fair but also thorough hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”
Trump made his plan to nominate Tillerson official in an announcement on Tuesday morning.
“Rex Tillerson’s career is the embodiment of the American dream. Through hard work, dedication and smart deal making, Rex rose through the ranks to become CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the world’s largest and most respected companies," Trump said. "His tenacity, broad experience and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for secretary of State. He will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States. Rex knows how to manage a global enterprise, which is crucial to running a successful State Department, and his relationships with leaders all over the world are second to none. I can think of no one more prepared, and no one more dedicated, to serve as secretary of State at this critical time in our history.”
“I am honored by President-elect Trump's nomination and share his vision for restoring the credibility of the United States’ foreign relations and advancing our country’s national security,” said Tillerson. “We must focus on strengthening our alliances, pursuing shared national interests and enhancing the strength, security and sovereignty of the United States.”
While the GOP controls the Senate with 52 votes, if the Democrats unite in opposing Tillerson and a handful of Republicans join them, the nomination would be in serious jeopardy. U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, and John McCain, R-Ariz., have joined Rubio in expressing concerns over Tillerson’s ties to Putin.
