Trump joins Marco Rubio and Kristi Noem for top jobs

Two Florida lawmakers known to be tough on China are in the running for foreign relations jobs in President-elect Donald Trump's administration, US media reports say.

Senator Marco Rubio is expected to be his next secretary of state, sources have told the BBC's US partner, CBS News. But the choice is not yet confirmed. Army veteran Michael Waltz is a favorite for Trump's national security adviser, CBS added.

According to the same network, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem could also play a major role in the Trump administration – as secretary of homeland security.

The offices of Rubio and Waltz did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.

Trump's regime is starting to take shape after his victory in last week's presidential election.

His Republican Party is closing in on full control of Congress. They regained control of the Senate, the upper chamber, and are heading for a majority in the House, the lower chamber, as the vote counting continues.

Other appointments — including secretary of state — will need to be approved by the Senate, although Trump wants the next Senate leader to let him go through this. He can assign other duties – such as national security adviser – directly.

The reported roles of Rubio, Waltz and Noem come after Trump made Susie Wiles his chief of staff, named former immigration official Tom Homan the “king of the border” and nominated New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as his next ambassador to the United Nations.

The president-elect is responsible for about 4,000 political appointments. During his first presidency, it took Trump months to assemble his cabinet.

It has not been confirmed whether Rubio, 53, will be nominated to serve as secretary of state – a role that serves as America's top strategist – but the Florida Republican's career has made him a candidate for the post.

Several American media outlets have reported that Rubio is in talks with Trump's transition team about the top post, but it has not been finalized. It seems that the president-elect may change his mind.

Rubio serves as vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and sits on the Foreign Relations Committee.

He is considered a foreign policy “hawk” – meaning someone who takes tough positions – in Iran and China.

While supporting Ukraine, he previously said the country's war with Russia needed to be “brought to an end”.

Rubio and Trump were rivals in the race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 and the two had a bitter rivalry.

They clashed over different things – especially immigrants – and the conflict led to different insults. Trump called the senator “little Marco” and Rubio mocked Trump's “tiny hands.”

But Rubio continued to endorse his rival and campaign for him ahead of the 2024 election. He was also in the running to be Trump's running mate – a role that eventually went to JD Vance, who has similar views on China.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrant workers, was first elected to the Senate in 2010.

Waltz, 50, an Army veteran and longtime Trump supporter, was re-elected to Congress last week.

Two sources confirmed to CBS that he is expected to be named national security adviser – which will include identifying and dealing with threats against the US. Appointments will not require Senate approval.

Waltz is a decorated Green Beret and military veteran, having served multiple tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa.

In his book, Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret's Battles from Washington to Afghanistan, he wrote about his experience working in the Pentagon during the George W Bush administration and in wars overseas.

Like Rubio, Waltz has taken a hard line on China. As chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Preparedness, he argued that the US needed to do more to prepare for conflict in the Pacific.

He also said that the US should continue its support for Ukraine, but in recent weeks has encouraged a review of the use of US military aid.

Waltz said Nato allies should increase their defense spending, although he has not reached out to Trump – who has reportedly suggested the US could leave the Western military alliance, in which it is a major player.

“Look, we can ally with friends and have tough conversations,” Waltz said last month.

Since the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, Waltz has often criticized President Joe Biden and the White House.

She will be the second member of Congress to be asked to serve in the next Trump administration, which would require her to leave her seat in the House of Representatives.

That could have an impact if Republicans end up controlling the House with a slim majority. Waltz's resignation will dilute any majority until a replacement is chosen.

Waltz will be the fifth national security adviser to serve under Trump, who appointed four different men to the post during his first term.

Trump fired three of them: Michael Flynn, HR McMaster and John Bolton. The last of the three is campaigning for Trump in the 2024 election.

Noem, 52, was asked to find a key brief for overseeing US security – including the border, cyber threats, terrorism and emergencies.

The organization has a budget of $62bn (£48bn) and employs thousands of people.

He will work closely with Homan – who has been dubbed the border czar – and Stephen Miller, who heads the policy, to deliver on Trump's immigration promises.

Noem was passed over as Trump's running mate in part because of his shocking admission that he killed his dog.

He dropped out of college at the age of 22 to manage his family's farm. Noem was elected South Dakota's first female governor in 2018.

Trump reportedly once told Noem that he would like to have his face put on Mount Rushmore – the largest monument to past presidents carved into a mountain in his home state.

Instead, he gave her a smaller statue – a 4ft (1.2m) bust showing her face alongside former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

North American journalist Anthony Zurcher makes sense of the race for the White House in his biweekly newsletter US Election Unspun. UK students can register here. Those outside the UK can register here.