Trump hands Rubio 'key' to US foreign policy in move echoing new Kissinger
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
For the first time in 50 years, one person will oversee both diplomacy and security in the United States. Republicans are concerned about excessive centralization, according to Politico.
Three senior White House officials noted that Marco Rubio will serve simultaneously as the US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor for at least six months.
According to sources, several advisors to President Donald Trump are interested in Rubio holding these two positions permanently. One official mentioned that Rubio's recent appointment was not viewed as a temporary measure.
Although Rubio did not seek this position, President Trump and White House Chief of Staff Suzy Wiles urged him to take on broader responsibilities in foreign policy and to strengthen control over the administration's foreign policy direction.
According to Politico, this appointment is a significant promotion for Rubio, a former competitor to Trump in the 2016 primaries. At that time, Rubio exchanged sharp personal attacks with Trump, and now he is viewed with suspicion by some members of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
"He’s just a quintessential team player who is willing to accept whatever task is necessary to deliver for the president, including the hard or risky ones," said the official.
Ideal Rubio
According to another official, Rubio’s task is to ensure stability and to "reorient" the National Security Council's operations to align as closely as possible with the president's vision. The official emphasized that Rubio is "the perfect person" for this role because “he understands process and foreign policy, and works well with the team – which is a big deal.”
Among Rubio's key advantages, according to officials, is his loyalty. Since taking office as Secretary of State, he has distanced himself from several previous positions, including on support for Ukraine, and has been an outspoken advocate for President Trump's immigration policy, despite his Cuban heritage. These shifts have drawn criticism from some traditional Republicans and foreign policy experts who had considered him an ally.
“You need a team player who is very honest with the president and the senior team – not someone trying to build an empire or wield a knife or drive their own agenda. He is singularly focused on delivering the president’s agenda,” said the first official.
Historical example and synergy
Sources mentioned that initially, there were concerns about the scale and scope of the roles of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor. Henry Kissinger was the only one to hold both positions in the administrations of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He used his dual role to exert influence on the process and became one of the most powerful presidential advisors in history.
In recent days, Trump administration officials have concluded that combining the two roles is not only possible but may create a synergistic effect.
"One is the convener, gatherer of facts, and articulator of policy. And the other is the diplomatic lead. I realized they may be more complementary than I thought," said the second official.
Regarding other potential candidates for National Security Advisor, one official remarked: "Everyone should stop. We have a sensational person willing to do it," that person said.
On May 1, President Donald Trump dismissed Mike Waltz from the position of National Security Advisor. The reason was the controversial spread of classified information in a Signal chat.
CNN reported that Secretary Rubio could temporarily serve as Acting National Security Advisor.
