US Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced intense scrutiny on Tuesday during his first testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, defending the Trump administration’s foreign policy approach and budget cuts amid bipartisan criticism.
Despite criticism that the administration is pulling back from the international scene, Rubio asserted that the United States is not receding from global affairs. “I just visited 18 countries in 18 weeks,” he informed lawmakers, refuting suggestions that foreign policy is being disassembled.
Rubio was taken to task on a variety of topics, including the administration’s crackdown on immigrants, its efforts to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the hot-button prioritization of white South African immigrants ahead of refugees from other areas. Senator Chris Van Hollen took Rubio to task for forsaking values he had once embraced and enabling Trump’s agenda and ignoring actual crises such as the genocide in Sudan.
In rebuttal, Rubio contended that foreign aid efforts had been inefficiently managed and that the suggested $28.5 billion budget would cut out inefficiency while keeping the US as a preeminent donor of humanitarian aid. He laid out proposals for a new $2.9 billion “America First Opportunity Fund” to update aid distribution.
On Russia, Rubio asserted that no significant concessions had been granted to Putin and stressed that sanctions were still imposed. He also warned of a looming collapse into civil war in Syria.
Rubio was confronted by protesters at the hearing, who shouted “Stop the genocide” before police took them away. Regarding Gaza, Rubio stated Israel’s recent opening of humanitarian aid access was a welcome move and refuted reports of refugee relocation negotiations with Libya.
The hearing was a combative debut for Rubio as the skepticism about the administration’s evolving global strategy and values grows.
