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| Rex Tillerson set for state department confirmation after Marco Rubio backing | Rex Tillerson set for state department confirmation after Marco Rubio backing |
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| One of Donald Trump’s most important and precarious cabinet picks, former oil executive Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, looked almost certain to be confirmed on Monday as the last Republican holdout in the Senate declared his support. | One of Donald Trump’s most important and precarious cabinet picks, former oil executive Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, looked almost certain to be confirmed on Monday as the last Republican holdout in the Senate declared his support. |
| Florida senator Marco Rubio said he still had reservations about Tillerson’s commitment to defending human rights abroad, but would vote for him in view of his business credentials and the national interest, and because the former ExxonMobil chief had addressed at least some of Rubio’s concerns during a combative Senate hearing earlier this month. | Florida senator Marco Rubio said he still had reservations about Tillerson’s commitment to defending human rights abroad, but would vote for him in view of his business credentials and the national interest, and because the former ExxonMobil chief had addressed at least some of Rubio’s concerns during a combative Senate hearing earlier this month. |
| Two other sceptical Republican senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, announced their backing on Sunday. They also voiced reservations “about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin”, but said they were encouraged by his stated support for US alliances. | Two other sceptical Republican senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, announced their backing on Sunday. They also voiced reservations “about his past dealings with the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin”, but said they were encouraged by his stated support for US alliances. |
| Senate Democrats, however, remained staunchly opposed to Tillerson. Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the foreign affairs committee said that at his Senate hearing, the nominee had been “repeatedly prioritising narrow business interests ahead of these core national security interests”. | Senate Democrats, however, remained staunchly opposed to Tillerson. Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the foreign affairs committee said that at his Senate hearing, the nominee had been “repeatedly prioritising narrow business interests ahead of these core national security interests”. |
| With solid Republican backing in the Senate seemingly assured, Tillerson looked set to be voted through by the foreign relations committee on Monday and then approved on the Senate floor soon after. He would then join the secretary of defense, James Mattis, and homeland security secretary, John Kelly, as Trump’s first confirmed cabinet members, with Mike Pompeo likely to be approved as CIA director on Monday, as the new president strives to stabilise his administration’s shaky start. | With solid Republican backing in the Senate seemingly assured, Tillerson looked set to be voted through by the foreign relations committee on Monday and then approved on the Senate floor soon after. He would then join the secretary of defense, James Mattis, and homeland security secretary, John Kelly, as Trump’s first confirmed cabinet members, with Mike Pompeo likely to be approved as CIA director on Monday, as the new president strives to stabilise his administration’s shaky start. |
| Its first four days have been overshadowed by the president’s spats with the press and the intelligence community, and continuing reported leaks about investigations into possible contacts between Trump campaign officials and Moscow during the election. The latest came on Sunday, as the Wall Street Journal reported that US counter-intelligence officials were investigating communications between the national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and Russian officials. | Its first four days have been overshadowed by the president’s spats with the press and the intelligence community, and continuing reported leaks about investigations into possible contacts between Trump campaign officials and Moscow during the election. The latest came on Sunday, as the Wall Street Journal reported that US counter-intelligence officials were investigating communications between the national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and Russian officials. |
| With the administration’s legitimacy facing unprecedented questions in the wake of Russian election hacking, a Tillerson confirmation looked set to be a significant victory. | With the administration’s legitimacy facing unprecedented questions in the wake of Russian election hacking, a Tillerson confirmation looked set to be a significant victory. |
| “I believe the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet,” said Rubio, who had been the only Republican holdout on the committee. | “I believe the president is entitled to significant deference when it comes to his choices for the cabinet,” said Rubio, who had been the only Republican holdout on the committee. |
| “Therefore, despite my reservations, I will support Mr Tillerson’s nomination in committee and in the full Senate.” | “Therefore, despite my reservations, I will support Mr Tillerson’s nomination in committee and in the full Senate.” |
| Rubio’s statement came less than two weeks after his acute grilling of Tillerson at the latter’s confirmation hearing, in which the senator lectured Trump’s nominee on the need for “moral clarity” in the world. Rubio was dissatisfied when Tillerson declined to label Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” or condemn the human rights abuses of the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte. | Rubio’s statement came less than two weeks after his acute grilling of Tillerson at the latter’s confirmation hearing, in which the senator lectured Trump’s nominee on the need for “moral clarity” in the world. Rubio was dissatisfied when Tillerson declined to label Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” or condemn the human rights abuses of the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte. |
| But on Monday, Rubio said that although his concerns remained, he ultimately deemed it counterproductive to hold up Tillerson’s nomination at a time of global instability. | But on Monday, Rubio said that although his concerns remained, he ultimately deemed it counterproductive to hold up Tillerson’s nomination at a time of global instability. |
| “Given the uncertainty that exists both at home and abroad about the direction of our foreign policy, it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy,” Rubio said. | “Given the uncertainty that exists both at home and abroad about the direction of our foreign policy, it would be against our national interests to have this confirmation unnecessarily delayed or embroiled in controversy,” Rubio said. |
| Following his vocal doubts at Tillerson’s 11 January confirmation hearing, Rubio found himself under intense pressure from Trump’s allies, including senior members of past Republican administrations, who worked vigorously behind the scenes to secure the senator’s support. Rubio and Tillerson met privately last week with Vice-President Mike Pence and Trump’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus, also in attendance, according to the Washington Post. | Following his vocal doubts at Tillerson’s 11 January confirmation hearing, Rubio found himself under intense pressure from Trump’s allies, including senior members of past Republican administrations, who worked vigorously behind the scenes to secure the senator’s support. Rubio and Tillerson met privately last week with Vice-President Mike Pence and Trump’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus, also in attendance, according to the Washington Post. |
| Mark Dubowitz, the head of the hawkish foreign policy group the Foundation for Defence of Democracies, welcomed Tillerson’s imminent confirmation. | |
| “Tillerson’s confirmation will bring a tough, savvy, clear-eyed negotiator to the State Department who adversaries will not be able to run circles around,” Dubowitz said. |