The election cycle is over and America has a new President. With 2025, and inauguration day on Jan. 20, just weeks away, the new Trump administration must now scramble to build a cabinet that will advise the President on how to handle the country. Some familiar names are already being thrown around as to who will be a part of the body of head departments, but will Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who has had a tumultuous relationship with Trump, be a part of the equation?
People around Trump have been moving the pieces to be considered to a post since way before Election Day. Those with particular positions in mind have begun reaching out to members of Trump's inner circle to try and talk themselves up. But no formal conversations and agreements were made before Election Day as Trump, who is known to be superstitious, avoided the conversations in recent weeks, CNN reports.
The news outlet also confirms that many hopefuls changed their travel plans and schedules after Trump's victory to remain in the Palm Beach, Fla. area to make a case for themselves. Trump could start announcing his decision on some key positions within days, sources told CNN.
As these conversations progress, the name of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio comes into question, as he has served as a Trump campaign surrogate throughout the cycle, highlighting his own identity as a Cuban American and his experience in the Sunshine State to advocate for Trump's mass deportations plans and his administration as a whole.
But when it comes to a potential cabinet position, it seems his name is nowhere near the top of the list. In fact, he is reportedly in the foggy bottom to be considered as Secretary of State and national security adviser, despite being a China expert and a finalist for Trump's VP position, which ultimately went to JD Vance.
Trump has suggested his national security team would be tasked with reassessing the United States' posture toward Ukraine and Russia, China, Iran and the continuing conflict in the Middle East, CNN reports.
A top candidate for Secretary of State is a former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, two sources told Axios. They also said Grenell advised Trump on foreign policy during the campaign and would likely focus on Russia-Ukraine diplomacy. Republican control of the Senate neutralizes any difficulty Grennell could have had in being confirmed.
However, there are two other top contenders for this position, Axios reports. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), who served as ambassador to Japan during Trump's first term, and Trump's former national security adviser Robert O'Brien.
Former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus is also often mentioned for a senior State Department position or a key ambassador post, while Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is a leading name for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
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