Rubio’s Authority as Top US Diplomat Challenged by Trump Envoys

Jan. 13, 2025, 10:12 PM UTC

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.

Both longtime Trump advisers and friends, the men are among a group of appointees ...

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