image source, Reuters
Donald Trump is expected, according to US media reports, to choose Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor respectively – two US congressmen known for their anti-Iranian stances and strong support for Israel.
But this decision has not yet been officially confirmed by the Trump team. Sources familiar with the details of the process of selecting the president-elect revealed this news to various media outlets on Monday.
Although Trump has changed his decisions before, a knowledgeable source told Reuters that as of Monday, Marco Rubio appears likely to be chosen as secretary of state. Two additional sources confirmed to CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that Michael Waltz has been selected as White House national security adviser.
The positions of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor represent central roles in the US administration for shaping and implementing foreign policy. After every presidential election, there is intense competition for these positions.
Rubio’s name had previously been mentioned as a leading vice presidential candidate, but that role ultimately became J.D. Vance’s. Rubio, one of the Republican Party’s most prominent Latino politicians, has never held senior positions such as vice president or secretary of state.
The number of Latino voters in US elections has been steadily increasing, and in the 2024 election, their vote share in key states like Pennsylvania was high enough to influence the outcome. If Trump appoints Rubio as Secretary of State, it will represent a major success for Trump’s Latin American supporters across the country.
Supporters of sanctions against Iran
Both Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz are members of the US Congress and have commented extensively on various aspects of US foreign policy. They both belong to a faction of the Republican Party that advocates military force, a greater US presence on the global stage, and tougher stances against opponents such as Iran, Cuba and China.
Of the two, Rubio is particularly known for his anti-Iranian stances and has repeatedly called for increased sanctions on Iran. During the nuclear negotiations under Barack Obama, Rubio was not only an outspoken opponent, but also sought to impose more sanctions in Congress to reduce any potential benefits to Iran from such agreements.
As a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio, along with Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan, sent an open letter to Joe Biden in January 2024. In it, the two members urged the US government to impose tougher sanctions on Iran, citing the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and halt all Iranian oil sales under existing laws.
Last year, Rubio, Hassan and Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen introduced a proposal in the Senate aimed at blocking Iranian oil sales. Known as the “Iranian Oil Harbouring Stop Act,” the proposal is still under review in the Senate. If passed, it would require the US government to take broader measures to counter Iranian oil sales.
That same year, Rubio introduced another similar proposal, the End Iran Terrorism Act, which remains on the Senate agenda for consideration. If passed, it would significantly expand the scope of sanctions against Iran, especially targeting individuals who violate those sanctions.
Rubio has also been outspoken during the recent tensions in the Middle East, and has often defended Israel. Following reports of Iranian retaliation following an Israeli attack on an Iranian consulate, Rubio stated that Israel “faces its greatest threat since the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.” “Israel will immediately respond with a more severe counterattack inside Iran,” he wrote on the social media platform X.
As a Cuban immigrant, Rubio is also a fierce opponent of Cuba’s communist government. Regarding US foreign policy toward Iran, Rubio believes Washington should adopt a hard-line approach similar to its position on Cuba.
Michael Waltz, a member of the US House of Representatives, has a similar track record to Rubio in this regard. In 2021, he co-wrote a collective open letter signed by 140 representatives from both the Republican and Democratic parties. The letter urged the Biden administration not to ignore “Iran’s nuclear ambitions, ballistic missile program and support for terrorism.”
Over the past two years, Waltz has repeatedly criticized Biden’s policies, saying the administration has not been tough enough on Iran. According to Waltz, this leniency has allowed the Iranian government to increase access to financial resources. In June 2024, he even sought to impose sanctions on Faiq Zaidan, the head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, as being “controlled by Iran,” alleging his involvement in Iran’s efforts to influence Iraq.
Both Rubio and Waltz defend a mainstream Republican foreign policy approach that contrasts sharply with Trump’s isolationism. During Trump’s previous term, similar figures, such as John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, played key roles in shaping foreign policy.
In Trump’s first term, these politicians stuck to traditional policies, especially regarding the Middle East and Israel’s security. However, on issues such as NATO, the European Union and relations with Russia, they have sided with Trump’s isolationist views. If Rubio and Waltz are appointed, a similar approach is expected this time around as well.
When it comes to confronting Iran and “ensuring Israel’s security,” figures like Marco Rubio will likely be free to pursue a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. Even a general reduction of the US military presence globally may face exceptions in the Middle East.
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