President-elect Donald Trump has nominated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as Secretary of State. When Rubio is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, expected in late January or early February, he must resign his Senate seat.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will then appoint someone to fill Rubio's open Senate seat to serve until the next general election in November 2026.
There has been mounting speculation that DeSantis could appoint Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of President-elect Trump and married to his son, Eric.
Lara Trump was named co-chair of the Republican National Committee before the kickoff of the 2024 election. She played a key role in the successful Republican campaigns, winning the presidency, the U.S. Senate majority and the U.S. House majority.
DeSantis has not indicated who he will appoint to the Senate.
Lara Trump appeared on FNC's "Fox & Friends" Saturday morning. When asked about the possible senate appointment going to her, she said: "Well, you know there have been crazier things the Trumps have done in the past. That’s for sure! ... If I’m tapped to serve in another capacity, it truly would be my honor. I think it would be great to have another young mom alongside Katie Britt there in the United States Senate. I have not been asked yet, but I certainly would strongly consider it if it’s presented to me."
The point about working "alongside Katie Britt" as "another young mom" is interesting for several reasons. At age 41, Britt is the youngest woman U.S. Senator ever. She is the only mother with school-age children serving. She is indeed a young mom.
Britt utilized her mom-hood in her televised response to President Biden's State of the Union Address. She gave her address inside her own kitchen—a most unusual venue—not at all like a politician. The contrast was clear between Biden, the oldest president and a career politician, and Britt, the voice of a younger generation and a young mom.
Britt used the kitchen scenario to address "issues real families are facing."
She pointed out that Biden has "been in office longer than I have been alive."
Lara Trump, 42, came to Montgomery as the keynote speaker of the Alabama Republican Party dinner. At the event, she was welcomed to Alabama by Katie Britt and her husband, former Crimson Tide and NFL player Wesley Britt.
Britt was among the first and most emphatic people to suggest Lara Trump for the Florida U.S. Senate appointment. Britt told Axios: "She [Lara Trump] just got off a historic win. She understands the America First agenda. For me, I think she would be a tremendous pick, a voice for hard-working families and another mom of school-aged kids that understands what we're up against, and that's to fight to protect the American dream."
Lara Trump is a former television producer. She produced "Real News Update" for Trump Productions and "Inside Edition."
If there was any question as to whether Lara Trump is a resident of Florida, that issue was settled in August 2021. She and her husband bought a home inside the gated community of Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Fla.
Eric and Lara Trump have two children, ages 4 and 6. She is indeed a young mom.
If DeSantis were to appoint Lara Trump to the U.S. Senate, she could be an asset in many ways. One way could be to work with her colleague, Katie Britt, to gain the support of the Trump administration and the Senate for things needed in Alabama.
Donald Trump is fond of saying, "I love Alabama." He is also fond of coming to Alabama for speeches, stadium rallies and Alabama football games.
Maybe Lara Trump and Katie Britt, along with their Trump-loyalist colleague U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), could push Alabama projects to the forefront, such as:
Moving U.S. Space Command to Huntsville
Widening Interstate 65 from the Tennessee line to Mobile, as promised by Trump and Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth.
Building the Interstate 10 Bayway Bridge with federal infrastructure funds. Trump has promised an I-10 bridge in Louisiana and could do the same in Alabama.
Ending federal regulation of Alabama and Florida's red snapper fishery and return it to state regulation.
Alabama has two hard-working U.S. Senators. As her remarks on "Fox & Friends" indicated, maybe Sen. Lara Trump would work with them.
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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