Trump Taps FL Republicans Rubio, Waltz For Key Foreign Policy Roles

FLORIDA — Two high-ranking Florida Republicans are expected to take on critical foreign policy and national security roles within President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming administration, according to multiple reports.

Trump already asked U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz to serve as his national security adviser and he’ll likely tap U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, reports said. He previously named Floridian Susie Wiles as his incoming chief of staff.

Waltz, a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida, was the first Green Beret elected to the U.S. House, and easily won reelection last week. He has been chair of the House Armed Services subcommittee on readiness and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The move would put Waltz at the forefront of a litany of national security crises — ranging from the ongoing effort to provide weapons to Ukraine and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah.

While Trump could still change his mind before taking office, he’s planning to offer the critical secretary of state role to Rubio ahead of his January return to the White House, the New York Times reported.

Ric Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first administration, has also been in the running for the position, CNN said.

Rubio, who was elected to the Senate in 2010, was previously considered by Trump as his running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Ultimately, the president-elect chose U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his vice presidential pick.

The son of Cuban exiles, Rubio sits on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. He holds similar positions to Trump on various international conflicts, from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Israel’s war with Hamas, Fox News said. He's also taken a hard line against China.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would play a key role in ensuring both vacated roles are filled. For the U.S. House seat, the governor would need to set a date for a special election to replace Waltz. Even if he moved quickly, it would still likely be several months before an election could be held, Politico said.

If Rubio is named secretary of state, DeSantis would appoint his temporary replacement, who would serve in the role until a 2026 special election to complete the final two years of his Senate term, CBS News reported.

Among those DeSantis might consider for the Senate seat are Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva or chief of staff James Uthmeier, Politico reported.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.