Shortly after Donald Trump formally announced that he will nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement signaling that he may not support Tillerson’s confirmation.
“While Rex Tillerson is a respected businessman, I have serious concerns about his nomination,” Rubio said in a Tuesday morning statement. “The next secretary of state must be someone who views the world with moral clarity, is free of potential conflicts of interest, has a clear sense of America’s interests, and will be a forceful advocate for America’s foreign policy goals to the president, within the administration, and on the world stage. I look forward to learning more about his record and his views. I will do my part to ensure he receives a full and fair but also thorough hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”
Rubio previously expressed skepticism over Tillerson in a tweet over the weekend, citing Tillerson’s cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Being a “friend of Vladimir” is not an attribute I am hoping for from a #SecretaryOfState – MR
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 11, 2016
Rubio is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will oversee Tillerson’s confirmation hearing.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have also indicated they may oppose Tillerson’s nomination over his ties to Russia.
