A mix of Democratic voices have expressed support for Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as Secretary of State, although skepticism remains about some of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet selections. California’s incoming Democratic Senator, Adam Schiff, shared his thoughts on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” stating, “I believe Marco Rubio is exceptionally qualified for this role. I’ll still have a few questions and won’t make a full judgment just yet, but there’s no denying his qualifications.”
In the past couple of weeks, Trump has been actively announcing his choices for the 15 executive department heads, shifting focus to the U.S. Senate for candidate confirmations. Within Trump’s circle, Rubio is viewed as one of the less extreme options. According to a Trump ally, Rubio has recently shown greater alignment with Trump’s stance on tariffs.
During the 2024 election cycle, Trump promoted universal tariffs, notably proposing a steep 60% tariff on Chinese goods. Known for his firm stance against China, Rubio has been a vocal proponent of banning TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by China’s ByteDance, in the U.S. He remains a hawk on Iran but takes a more ambiguous position regarding support for Ukraine.
Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania expressed his admiration for Rubio in a “Fox News Sunday” interview, stating his intention to support Rubio’s confirmation. Fetterman also mentioned he might “enthusiastically vote yes” for Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.N. ambassador and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Secretary due to her union-friendly approach.
Furthermore, Fetterman has an open stance toward other candidates, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, his former opponent in the Pennsylvania Senate race, for the role of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator. “I’m willing to keep an open mind and have discussions with anyone involved,” Fetterman remarked.
Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois, a combat veteran with firsthand military experience, also acknowledged her friendship with Rubio and expressed interest in discussing policy matters with him. During her CNN “State of the Union” appearance, Duckworth shared her thoughts on Trump’s defense and veteran affairs nominations. Although open to discussing with Doug Collins, Trump’s choice for the Department of Veteran Affairs, she criticized Fox News host Pete Hegseth as “unqualified” for Secretary of Defense. “Being in charge of a platoon doesn’t prepare someone to lead the defense department,” she said, preferring Doug Collins’ potential as a “disruptor” in resolving the VA’s electronic medical records issues.
Pete Hegseth has faced scrutiny relating to a 2017 police investigation over an alleged sexual assault in California. Meanwhile, former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, nominated by Trump for Director of National Intelligence, has sparked significant controversy. Concerns about her lack of experience on the House Intelligence Committee and alleged ties with the Kremlin have been raised by Senator-elect Schiff.
Sen. Duckworth voiced similar concerns, questioning Gabbard’s ability to pass a background check, fearing her support for Russian President Vladimir Putin might compromise U.S. interests. However, her potential allegiance to Russia is contested by some Republicans, including Missouri’s Republican Senator Eric Schmitt, who found the accusation offensive.
Former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” expressed doubts about Sebastian Gorka, Trump’s ex-national security adviser, advising on national security in the upcoming term. McMaster, critical of some aspects of Trump’s foreign policy post-administration, warned Republican officials against echoing Putin’s narratives.
The Democrats’ resistance in Congress has led Trump to consider an extended Senate recess in 2025 to bypass the confirmation process for his Cabinet picks. Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee mentioned on ABC’s “This Week” that recess appointments remain a viable option, emphasizing the need for a cooperative approach from Democrats. “If the opposition grows heavy, Trump needs every available tool to assemble his team,” Hagerty stressed.
