Marco Rubio has chosen the position of Secretary of State in Trump’s second cabinet: Fox News

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of state, according to a source familiar with the transition process, Fox News reports.

While Trump could still change his mind, the source stressed that the three-term senator is currently the preferred choice. Rubio, previously considered Trump’s running mate before the former president chose Ohio Sen. JD Vance, is expected to bring foreign policy experience and strong conservative credentials to the role.

The New York Times first reported the news on Monday evening. Spokespeople for the Trump transition team have not yet commented.

Rubio, 53, a former presidential candidate who dueled with Trump in the 2016 primaries, has since become a reliable Trump ally in the Senate. Rubio is known for his foreign policy expertise and sits on both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee. While he has aligned with Trump on several international issues, such as opposing increased U.S. aid to Ukraine and for diplomatic solutions, Rubio remains a foreign policy hawk who favors strengthening U.S. alliances abroad, including NATO , used.

If confirmed, Rubio would be the first Latino to serve as secretary of state, a historic milestone. The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), a major Trump backer in the 2024 election, celebrated Rubio’s potential appointment. “We know that with Senator Rubio at the helm of the State Department, America will stand side by side with our allies and confront our enemies,” RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks said in a statement. They praised Rubio as “an outspoken defender of Israel who has always supported the Jewish state.”

Since securing a second term in the White House last week, Trump has begun assembling his Cabinet. In addition to Rubio, the president-elect is expected to appoint Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Tom Homan as “border czar” and Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida as national security adviser. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York will take over Head of the Environmental Protection Agency.