Former U.S. senator from Florida Marco Rubio jumps into new role as secretary of state with flurry of phone calls, planned trip to Panama.

The departure from the Biden administration’s approach to combatting so-called “disinformation” was one of several planned changes for the State Department outlined by Rubio, 53, in a cable sent

China's top diplomat held his first phone conversation with the new US secretary of state on Friday, days after Donald Trump's return to the White House brought more uncertainty to relations. Since then,

Tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising for some time now, and Rubio's appointment has widely been seen as a sign that Trump plans to maintain a hard line on China during his second term. One of the most outspoken China hawks in Washington, Rubio has introduced several bills targeting the Chinese Communist Party.

Washington — The Senate on Monday confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, making him the first of President Trump's Cabinet nominees to win the approval of the upper chamber. The Senate confirmed Rubio in a 99 to 0 vote as his former colleagues in the Senate touted his qualifications for the job.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. The Senate quickly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to give President ...

After Donald Trump froze nearly all U.S. foreign aid last week, international projects on health, education, food, and all other humanitarian areas were placed in jeopardy. On Tuesday night, newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to undo some of the confusion by issuing a memo waiving the aid freeze for “livesaving humanitarian assistance.

In his confirmation hearing, Marco Rubio said that "the moment of truth is arriving" for Cuba's communist rulers. I am certain that moment will someday arrive. And I am certain it will arrive much sooner with America's support.

Trump administration changes have upended the U.S. agency charged with providing humanitarian aid overseas, with senior officials put on leave, contractors laid off and a sweeping freeze imposed on foreign assistance.

NEW YORK, January 31. /TASS/. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington needs to engage in contacts with China and Russia, and to do so at the highest levels. "Ultimately when you’re dealing with great powers like China, it’s going to be at the highest levels <…> and that interaction will happen. In the case of Russia, the same," he said.