Former Senate colleague says Rubio is taking on too many responsibilities

A former congressional colleague of Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the cabinet official is taking on too many responsibilities.

Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, who worked with Rubio on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence from 2011 to this past January, said during a CNN interview on Sunday that the secretary should not both head the State Department and serve as national security adviser.

“I don’t know how anybody … could do these two big jobs,” Warner said. “And they’re, frankly, very different.”

Warner and 98 other senators confirmed Rubio as secretary on Inauguration Day. Four days ago, President Donald Trump announced Rubio would serve as national security adviser. Warner said he doesn’t see how anybody could do both jobs.

“One is actually trying to diplomatically work with friends and adversaries around the world. And, unfortunately, the number of adversaries has gone up dramatically as Trump’s approach has been so awful to our allies,” he said. “The other around national security adviser has really grown into a major job. Maybe slimming down some of that portfolio could make sense, but I don’t see how any individual could do both of those.”

A senior State Department official told NBC News that Rubio looks forward to serving as interim national security adviser while “ensuring the mission critical work at the State Department continues uninterrupted.”

Trump said in a post on social media platform Truth Social that Rubio will help in the “fight” to “Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN.”

Warner said not to forget that the secretary is also the acting director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Even for a Marco Rubio, I don’t think — I think it’s too much,” he said.

CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent Jake Tapper, who was interviewing Warner, mentioned that the lawmaker thinks highly of Rubio and that he’s an “able guy.”

“Listen, I’ve-I’ve worked very well with him for years,” Warner replied. “I’ve been disappointed by some of the actions he’s taken as secretary in this kind of kowtowing to Trump.”

Rubio has said he is implementing a “decisive” and “focused” “America First foreign policy agenda” that aligns with the Trump administration. He’s also proud of the work the State Department has done since Inauguration Day to implement Trump’s agenda.

“With an impending reorganization that will unleash the department’s talent from the ground-up, the state department is set to continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety, security and prosperity of the American people over the next four years,” Rubio said in a news release.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at [e-mail].