Who is Marco Rubio, the Latino chosen as Secretary of State by Donald Trump?

As Donald Trump’s inauguration approaches, the cabinet of the 47th president-elect is taking shape. Its most recent addition? Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.

Donald Trump has chosen the Floridian of Latino descent for one of the most important positions in the country’s government. The main function of the Secretary of State is to carry out the president’s foreign policy decisions and advise him on issues of international interest. With this, Marco Rubio will be the first Latino to occupy the highest diplomatic post in the United States.

According to Reuters analysts, Rubio was one of the likely options for Trump’s cabinet due to “his stance on an aggressive foreign policy with respect to the United States’ geopolitical enemies, such as China, Iran and Cuba.”

Marco Rubio’s career so far

Rubio, 53, is a prominent member of the Republican Party. He currently represents Florida in the Senate, a position he has held since 2011. Before taking a seat in the Senate, he served in the Florida House of Representatives in 2000, where he was a proponent of austerity.

In 2016, Rubio was a Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States, but lost to Donald Trump.

However, Trump’s position regarding Rubio has changed, considering him one of his strongest allies as he overturned the Democrats significant polling lead for Latino Americans.

As an official, Rubio has taken a tough stance on national security, and has supported initiatives to curb illegal immigration, even though he is the son of immigrants. Rubio’s parents, Oriales and Marco, immigrated to the United States shortly before the Cuban Revolution. Rubio says his parents’ experience has influenced his political and personal views.