US Senator Marco Rubio is known for his hawkish views on China and his staunch support of Israel.

The newly elected President of the United States, Donald Trump, is expected to nominate Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as his Secretary of State, several media outlets have reported.

Trump appeared to have made up his mind about Rubio on Monday, although he could still change his mind, outlets including The New York Times, CNN, CBS News and Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the decision.

Rubio, known for his hawkish views on foreign policy, would be the first Latin American to serve as Washington’s top diplomat if appointed to the role.

Other names tipped in the media as candidates for the role include Richard Grenell, who served as ambassador to Germany during Trump’s first term, and Robert O’Brien, Trump’s former national security adviser.

Rubio, who serves on the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees, is the latest figure tipped to work under Trump as the makeup of his new administration quickly takes shape.

Trump on Monday appointed Tom Homan, a former director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as his “border czar” and Elise Stefanik, a House Republican from New York, as ambassador to the United Nations.

Since his election to the US Senate in 2010, Rubio has built a reputation for his tough views on US adversaries such as China, Iran, Venezuela and Cuba.

He has also staunchly supported Israel’s war in Gaza, telling a peace activist last year that Hamas was “100 percent responsible” for the deaths of Palestinians in the enclave.

“I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on,” Rubio said in a December confrontation with Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin.

“These people are vicious animals who have committed heinous crimes and I hope you post that because that is my position.”

During his failed 2016 presidential campaign, Rubio clashed with Trump, mocking his then-rival for the size of his hands and saying he would “turn America orange” instead of great again.

Rubio later endorsed Trump as the Republican nominee in 2016 and acted as a close foreign policy adviser to the former president during his failed 2020 run.

During Trump’s final bid for the White House, Rubio was floated as a possible vice presidential pick and appeared with him at several events during the campaign.