Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s highly anticipated return to the Senate today has elicited a common refrain from Democrats: Where do we even begin?
Rubio’s first public testimony since his confirmation as America’s top diplomat four months ago comes amid a myriad of global crises, in addition to policy decisions that Democrats — and a handful of Republicans — have strongly denounced.
Rubio will testify this morning before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In the afternoon, he’ll appear before the Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Here’s a link to Rubio’s opening statement before the Foreign Relations panel.
We have exclusive details on how Democrats plan to handle the Foreign Relations hearing. But first, consider everything that’s happened since Rubio was confirmed 99-0 on Inauguration Day:
The former Florida GOP senator now has four jobs: Rubio has overseen the complete dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development; Rubio has proposed a budget that would cut key programs; the Trump administration is no closer to brokering a peace deal in Ukraine, while Israel is preparing a new ground offensive in Gaza; and Trump’s trade war is raging on.
Dems’ plans: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), the Foreign Relations Committee’s top Democrat, will focus her questioning on China, we’re told. She’ll argue that Beijing is taking advantage of the Trump administration’s decision-making on the global stage — from tariffs to USAID cuts to breaking with longtime allies.
Shaheen believes focusing on China is the best way to bolster public support for maintaining the diplomatic initiatives the Trump team has shunned, per a committee aide.
In opening remarks, Shaheen will say the administration has “eviscerated six decades of American foreign policy investments,” pointing to Elon Musk and DOGE taking a “chainsaw” to USAID while China increases its investments.
“Beijing is making the case that they are a more reliable, supportive partner than the United States,” Shaheen will say. “Mr. Secretary, I urge you to stand up to the extremists in this administration.”
