Rubio confirmed as secretary of state, becoming first member of 2nd Trump Cabinet

The Senate voted unanimously in favor of confirming Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State on Monday, making him the first confirmed member of President Donald Trump's cabinet in his second term.

All 99 senators voted in favor of Rubio, including Rubio himself. There is currently one empty seat in the Senate chamber due to Vice President J.D. Vance resigning in mid-January. Rubio, the first Hispanic American to hold this post, is expected to step down from his current Senate position soon.

Rubio's experience as the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee provided the qualifications needed to earn the public support of a number of Democrats.

By President Trump in November: "As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under President Trump's leadership, we will achieve peace through strength and prioritize the interests of the American people above all else. I look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the U.S. Senate so the President has his national security and foreign policy team in place by January 20, when he takes office."

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The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously on Monday to move Rubio's nomination forward to the Senate floor, with a vote of 22-0. Committee chairman James Risch, a senator from Idaho, stated that he anticipated calling Rubio's nomination for a full Senate vote on the same day.

The U.S. Department of State was working at full speed on Monday to get everything in place for his first full day as the country's top diplomat.

Two officials with the State Department stated that assuming everything goes as planned, Rubio will deliver a speech to mark his arrival on Tuesday. He will also meet separately and together with the foreign ministers from India, Australia, and Japan. These three countries, along with the US, comprise the "Quad," a diplomatic partnership regarded as crucial for countering China's impact in the Pacific.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will fill Rubio's vacant Senate seat.