The Senate quickly confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state Monday, voting unanimously to give President Donald Trump the first member of his new Cabinet on Inauguration Day.Rubio, the Republican senator from Florida, is among the least controversial of Trump맥스카지노�s nominees and vote was decisive, 99-0. Another pick, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, is also expected to have a swift vote. Action on others, including former combat veteran and Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, is expected later in the week.Above video: Marco Rubio says voters want a strong America, security and prosperity맥스카지노�Marco Rubio is a very intelligent man with a remarkable understanding of American foreign policy,맥스카지노� Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the senior-most Republican, said as the chamber opened.It맥스카지노�s often tradition for the Senate to convene immediately after the ceremonial pomp of the inauguration to begin putting the new president맥스카지노�s team in place, particularly the national security officials. During Trump맥스카지노�s first term, the Senate swiftly confirmed his defense and homeland security secretaries on day one, and President Joe Biden맥스카지노�s choice for director of national intelligence was confirmed on his own Inauguration Day.With Trump맥스카지노�s return to the White House, and his Republican Party controlling majorities in Congress, his outsider Cabinet choices are more clearly falling into place, despite initial skepticism and opposition from both sides of the aisle.Senate Majority Leader John Thune moved quickly Monday, saying he expected voting to begin 맥스카지노�imminently맥스카지노� on Trump맥스카지노�s nominees.Democrats have calculated it맥스카지노�s better for them to be seen as more willing to work with Trump, rather than simply mounting a blockade to his nominees. They맥스카지노�re holding their opposition for some of his other picks who have less support, including Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said his party will 맥스카지노�neither rubber-stamp nominees we feel are grossly unqualified, nor oppose nominees that deserve serious consideration.맥스카지노�Rubio, he said, is an example of 맥스카지노�a qualified nominee we think should be confirmed quickly.맥스카지노�Senate committees have been holding lengthy confirmation hearings on more than a dozen of the Cabinet nominees, with more to come this week. And several panels are expected to meet late Monday to begin voting to advance the nominees to the full Senate for confirmation.The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Rubio맥스카지노�s nomination late Monday. The Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Intelligence Committee, respectively, advanced the nominations of Hegseth and Ratcliffe.Rubio, a well-liked senator and former Trump rival during the 2016 presidential race, has drawn closer to the president in recent years. He appeared last week to answer questions before the Foreign Relations Committee, where he has spent more than a decade as a member.As secretary of state, Rubio would be the nation맥스카지노�s top diplomat, and the first Latino to hold the position. Born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, he has long been involved in foreign affairs, particularly in South America, and has emerged as a hawk on China맥스카지노�s rise.During his confirmation hearing last week, Rubio warned of the consequences of America맥스카지노�s 맥스카지노�unbalanced relationship맥스카지노� with China. While he echoes Trump맥스카지노�s anti-globalist rhetoric, Rubio is also seen as an internationalist who understands the power of U.S. involvement on the global stage.Rubio is likely to win bipartisan support from both Republicans and Democrats. He would take over for outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has said he hopes the Trump administration continues Biden맥스카지노�s policies in the Middle East to end the war in Gaza and to help Ukraine counter Russian nomination.The Senate is split 53-47, but the resignation of Vice President JD Vance drops the GOP majority to 52 until his successor arrives. Republicans need almost all every party member in line to overcome Democratic opposition to nominees.Objection from any one senator, as is expected with Hegseth and several other choices, would force the Senate into procedural steps that would drag voting later into the week.