Florida Officials Celebrate Rubio's Confirmation as Secretary of State

Marco Rubio

Several Florida officials, including newly-designated Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) and Representatives Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and Kat Cammack (R-FL), celebrated the unanimous confirmation of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State on X (formerly Twitter).

Although Rubio's confirmation as Secretary of State was expected, his unanimous vote of 99-0 is truly remarkable. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was among the Senate Democrats who praised the former Senator.

Former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, whom Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) appointed to replace Rubio in the Senate, posted her congratulations on X, highlighting the new Secretary of State's "skill, intellect and distinguished career [that] have prepared him to expertly lead the U.S. Department of State and put #AmericaFirst in all foreign affairs."

Meanwhile, both Rep. Salazar and Rep. Gimenez celebrated Rubio as a fellow Cuban-American attaining such a prestigious position, with Rep. Salazar saying, "What a joyous day for the exile community in SoFlo, Miami's very own Rubio was unanimously confirmed as Secretary of State! Marco, we are very proud of you. You are the living embodiment of the American dream. Dictators and socialist[s] around the world don't stand a chance!"

Rep. Gimenez's initial post celebrating Rubio's confirmation jokingly referred to him as "Mr. Worldwide," a reference to Cuban-American rapper and singer Pitbull and the duties of Secretary of State in representing the United States on the world stage.

"CONFIRMED: It's official Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The highest-ranking Hispanic American in the US government — ever! We have a new Mr. Worldwide from Miami & he's just been UNANIMOUSLY CONFIRMED by the US Senate!" Rep. Gimenez first posted.

A second post before Rubio's swearing-in echoed Rep. Salazar's earlier post: "Words cannot describe how immensely proud our Cuban-American community feels. One of our own will be implementing policy against the Communist dictatorships that forced our families from home. Only in America!"

Finally, Rep. Cammack's post was simple, "Florida's finest! Congratulations, Secretary Rubio!"

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.