Trump May Appoint Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Leaving Vivek Ramaswamy Out of Key Role

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly leaning toward selecting Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State in his potential second term, sidelining Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Rubio, a steadfast ally of Trump’s 2024 campaign, would make history as the first Latino Secretary of State if appointed.

Rubio, who has represented Florida in the U.S. Senate since 2011, had been considered as a possible vice presidential candidate for Trump in the upcoming election. A strong voice on foreign policy, Rubio has played a prominent role in the Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Foreign Relations. Though he was an early advocate for supporting Ukraine, he recently opposed a $61 billion aid package, citing concerns over prioritizing U.S. immigration issues.

Ramaswamy, a former presidential contender who suspended his campaign to back Trump, has signaled interest in joining the administration. In an interview on ABC’s This Week, Ramaswamy mentioned that several roles were being considered for him. Speculation suggests he may be eyed for a leadership position at the Department of Homeland Security or could even run for a Senate seat in Ohio, should Vice President-elect J.D. Vance vacate the position.

Meanwhile, Trump’s cabinet decisions have garnered attention for their alignment with his political vision, with key positions like National Security Advisor and head of the EPA already filled. Should Ramaswamy be excluded, he would join Nikki Haley, another Indian-American supporter of Trump, who is also reportedly not in the running for a role in the new administration due to her past criticisms of Trump.