Rubio’s Authority as Secretary of State Threatened Even Before Trump Term Begins

  • Trump appointees take active roles as nominee stays mum
  • Dynamic poses challenge for secretary of state-designate
Donald Trump and Marco RubioPhotographer: Ryan M. Kelly/AFP/Getty Images
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Senator Marco Rubio is Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of state, but in the weeks running up to Inauguration Day, the president-elect’s special envoys have been getting most of the attention.

Trump summoned Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff at a press conference last week to report on his push to get an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Keith Kellogg, tapped to handle ties with Ukraine and Russia, has made frequent television appearances and pledged a visit to Kyiv — and possibly Moscow — very soon.