Trump taps Marco Rubio as secretary of state

What they're saying: "Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility, and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me," Rubio said in a statement.

• The New York Times was first to report Rubio's expected nomination on Monday.
• Trump called the senator a "highly respected leader and a very powerful voice for freedom" in a statement.
• "He will be a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries," the president-elect said.

Zoom in: Rubio has served in the Senate since 2011. He ran for president in 2016 before dropping out and endorsing Trump.

• He endorsed now-eliminated Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to replace Mitch McConnell as Senate GOP leader in the secret ballot election on Wednesday, won by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).
• Rubio voted against $95 billion in Ukraine aid in April, and has called for Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war with Russia — even if that means Russia keeps some of the territory from the invasion.
• Rubio, who would be the first Latino secretary of state, opposes normalizing relations with Cuba and is a noted China hawk, Reuters notes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is responsible for appointing Rubio's successor, who would serve until a special election in 2026 to determine who finishes the term.

• Potential choices include Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez, Attorney General Ashley Moody and chief of staff James Uthmeier, Axios Tampa Bay's Yacob Reyes reported.

Zoom out: Trump reportedly plans to name Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) as his national security adviser, Axios reported on Monday.

Go deeper: Behind the Curtain: The Cabinet pageant

Editor's note: This story was updated with Trump's official announcement and Rubio's statement.