Tensions between the U.S. and China have been rising for some time now, and Rubio's appointment has widely been seen as a sign that Trump plans to maintain a hard line on China during his second term. One of the most outspoken China hawks in Washington, Rubio has introduced several bills targeting the Chinese Communist Party.

Republicans kept the Senate working Saturday to install the latest member of Trump’s national security team on a 59-34 vote.

Ratcliffe, following former GOP Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of State, is Trump's second high-level appointment for the new administration.

The Senate voted to confirm Trump’s choice for secretary of State, and key committees advanced his nominations for defense secretary and CIA director.

Sen. Marco Rubio says the ‘postwar global order’ is being used as a ‘weapon’ against the U.S. in prepared remarks for his secretary of state confirmation hearing.

The Senate has unanimously confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of State; he will be the first Latino to serve as the nation's top diplomat.

Marco Rubio has been confirmed by the Senate as the country’s next secretary of state. The nomination of the senior senator from Florida, 53, was confirmed on Monday, Jan. 20, hours after Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president.

Some of President-elect Trump's nominees for Cabinet posts were in Senate committees for one of the busiest days of confirmation hearings in U.S. history. Amna Nawaz reports on the hearing for Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio and Trump's CIA director pick,

Marco Rubio, who has represented Florida in the Senate since 2011, is known for his hawkish stance on China and has been sanctioned by the country twice.

Hours after Trump was sworn in as president, senators confirmed his first Cabinet pick and advanced the nominations of several others through committee.