Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), a frequent critic of President-elect Trump, praised the reported nomination of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to serve as the next secretary of State.
“You know, Marco Rubio has been obviously kind of changing. I think he even voted against Ukraine aid, which was very surprising, when I learned that,” Kinzinger said during his Monday evening appearance on CNN’s The Source.”
“But he’s not a, you know, by no means is he like a neocon, so obviously that was important for Donald Trump, but he’s somebody that understands foreign policy. And that’s going to be important,” he told host Kaitlan Collins.
The former lawmaker, also one of the Republicans that voted to impeach Trump during his first term in office, added, “So as far as picks go, I think compared to some of the other names that were floating around, people who really don’t have any experience in foreign policy, I think this is a pretty good one.”
His remarks came hours after news broke about the president-elect’s rumored decision to elevate Rubio and other allies to key Cabinet positions. The Florida senator has been seen as a foreign policy hawk, primarily on Iran and China.
Kinzinger, who served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, said he was “not sure” what Rubio’s nomination means for the second Trump administration’s foreign policy agenda.
“Again, and I’m willing to give as much leeway as possible, but you know, Marco has shown his ability to kind of change for whatever Donald Trump demands, so it really comes down to, ‘What does Donald Trump demand?’” Kinzinger said in the interview.
“On the Russia issue, you just gotta take Donald Trump at his word that he thinks he can solve this in 24 hours, and his vice president said, ‘I don’t care what happens in Ukraine.’ I hope though that in this process, they’re actually going to be able to — if they’re going to cut a deal with Russia, to cut a good deal,” he continued. “Whatever that looks like, but one that makes sure that Ukraine is able to defend itself in the future.”
He also suggested the next administration will put “less constraints on Israel” and be likely be more “aggressive at confronting Iran.”
“In terms of Israel, look, this is continuing to be just a really complicated issue. There’s no doubt that I think there will be — they will put less constraints on Israel from this administration,” The Illinois Republican said. “I don’t think that’s a question, and probably will be much more aggressive at confronting Iran.”
After winning the presidential election over Vice President Harris last week, Trump has swiftly filled out key posts for his national security team. The president-elect picked Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) as his ambassador to the United Nations and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser. It has also been floated that he will tap South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Rubio’s departure from the Senate will downsize the Republicans’ majority in the upper chamber; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) will appoint a replacement to fill the seat.
