He’s literally a neocon.
Maybe he’s part of a phase:
Send in a swamp creature and monitor the conversations and transactions and otherwise figure out the game.
Send in the real SoS, a real hatchet.
Or maybe we’ve turned Rubio somehow. Counter-blackmail? Maybe he was the least scummy. Maybe he never got into the deeper circles and was clean enough.
It’s early in the game. Remember chess. Throw a pawn out there and sacrifice it. Get him confirmed. Then fire him or make him resign. Then put in the hatchet as “acting SoS” (doesn’t require senate confirmation) to tear some shit up. Then confirm the true SoS or maybe replace with another acting SoS.
ChatGPT:
Yes, a Secretary of State (SoS) can be replaced with an Acting Secretary of State in certain circumstances, such as resignation, removal, incapacity, or other situations where the position becomes vacant. The process for replacing the SoS with an acting official is governed by law and the presidential line of authority.
How It Works:
1.Vacancy in the Secretary of State Position: If the Secretary of State leaves office or is otherwise unable to fulfill their duties, the president can designate an acting official to temporarily take over.
2.Federal Vacancies Reform Act (FVRA): Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, the president may appoint an acting secretary from:
•Senior officials in the Department of State (e.g., Deputy Secretary of State).
•A person confirmed by the Senate for another federal position.
3.Internal Line of Succession:
The State Department’s internal succession plan usually specifies who will step in as acting Secretary of State. Typically, the Deputy Secretary of State or the Under Secretary for Political Affairs is next in line.
4.Temporary Role:
The Acting Secretary serves in a temporary capacity until a permanent Secretary of State is confirmed by the Senate.
Key Limitations:
•An acting official does not have the same political authority or permanence as a Senate-confirmed Secretary of State.
•The appointment of an acting official is typically time-limited by statute, usually to 210 days under the FVRA, unless a new nomination is pending.
Edit: Great responses! Keep em coming. This is why we come here. :)
My guess would be: it is necessary for Trump to show that if you do him favors, any favors, he will remember and return it. Perhaps especially if the person is somebody who previously acted like an enemy. Trump can't necessarily get everything done if he relies solely on people already in his camp, he will need also to compromise and work with "the other side" at least to some extent, so unless the person has done some serious crimes those from that "other side" should be reassured that yes, they can still change sides, or at the very least work with Trump because Trump can be relied on to not stab them in the back if they do so.
With that reputation Trump can also probably get new witnesses and whistleblowers from the cabal side, and they are still something useful.